Kate McDermott

Kate was appointed Section Principal Clarinet of the Orchestra of Scottish Opera in 2022. Prior to this, she held the position of Co-Principal Clarinet with the Gothenburg Opera Orchestra for over eleven years.

Originally from the Clyde Valley, Kate studied at the Royal College of Music, where she won the Senior Woodwind Prize, and later at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She has appeared as guest principal clarinet with many orchestras across the UK and Scandinavia, including the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, English National Opera, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Den Norske Opera & Ballett.

In 2022, Kate performed Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera. She has also appeared with contemporary music ensembles including the New European Ensemble in the Netherlands, Gageego! in Gothenburg and Red Note Ensemble. Her commercial recording credits include Verdi’s Macbeth with English National Opera and recordings of Shostakovich symphonies with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.