Strings Department (Undergraduate)

While teaching at RCS, Ruth has hoped to pass on her enthusiasm for different periods and styles of music to her students. She has a great interest in the practicalities of playing in a historically informed way on modern instruments-especially in Baroque & Classical music. She is also particularly interested in exploring 20th & 21st century repertoire with her students.

In summer 2018 Francis took up the post of Head of Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and continues teaching commitments at St Mary’s Music School. Francis serves on the board of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland and as a trustee of the Benedetti Foundation.

Bernard Docherty is a prizewinning violin graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and was for many years co-leader of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He is in constant demand as a guest orchestral leader at home and abroad.

Tamás’ repertoire includes all the major violin concertos, from Baroque to the 20th century, and at the end of 2016, he recorded Bach’s complete Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin,  released under Discovery Music and Vision label and launched the CD in two performances at the RSNO centre to huge acclaim.

Since her London debut performing Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy at St. James’ Palace for Yehudi Menuhin’s 60th Birthday Celebration at the age of 12, Scottish violinist Andrea Gajic has enjoyed an international career as a soloist and chamber musician of the highest order. Alongside an active performing career, Andrea is also a passionate and dedicated pedagogue. A professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, many of her students have excelled in national and international competitions.

Maya is the Leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra since 2011. Before that, she served as Leader of the Philharmonia Orchestra for 18 years, leading for many illustrious conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Gustavo Dudamel and Andris Nelsons. Solo highlights include performances with the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics, Philharmonia Orchestra and RSNO. Her chamber music activities have taken her to the IMS Prussia Cove, Wigmore Hall in London, Edinburgh Festival and BBC broadcasts. She is Co-Artistic Director of the Hellensmusic Festival. She studied with Alice Schoenfeld at the University of Southern California and Rodney Friend at the Royal College of Music. Sharing good food and wine with others is one of her greatest pleasures.

Award-winning violinist Gongbo Jiang regularly performs with orchestras across the UK, including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Scottish Opera.

Greg Lawson is a violinist, composer and conductor who has explored music from many genres. He studied violin at the Royal Northern College of Music with Malcolm Layfield and Eligh Goren and in West Berlin with Ilan Gronich.

After studying in Switzerland with Max Rostal, and working in Europe, Angus Ramsay has been the Principal 2nd Violinist with the Scottish Opera Orchestra for many years. For the past thirty years, he has taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Napier University for the last six years. Previously taught at Fettes College for nineteen years. He was also been Artistic Director of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival before co-founding the Cantilena Festival on Islay with Adrian Shepherd and Scott Mitchell.

Hector Scott was born in Edinburgh in 1969 and undertook his undergraduate studies at the RSAMD in Glasgow, where he won all the string prizes before going to Switzerland on a Caird Travelling Scholarship to study with Max Rostal and then to the New England Conservatory, Boston, USA, where he won the Concerto Club of Boston Prize, the Margaret Spanel Prize and played in the NEC Honors Quartet.

Guido De Groote was born in Cape Town, South Africa to a family of professional musicians. He studied with Jack De Wet at the University of Stellenbosch, and then with Simon Fischer on full scholarship at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He spent a number of years freelancing with British orchestras, in recording sessions and with alternative performing groups, until he became a permanent member of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Mr Deacon is a lecturer of violin, viola and chamber music at the RCS. Mr Deacon also enjoys leading sectional rehearsals for the RCS Symphony Orchestra. Donnie also enjoys online teaching with students in the Middle East and North America.

Katrina Lee, a Yorkshire-born Violinist, is a distinguished alumna of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She graduated with first-class Honours in 2014 and earned her Master of Music in 2016, studying under Andrea Gajic. Her academic journey was marked by numerous accolades, including the Hilda Bailey award, Ian D Watt award, Governors Prize for Strings, Robert Highgate Scholarship, and the Governors Prize for chamber music.

Jane Atkins is one of Britain’s most diverse violists with performances encompassing multiple genres including Baroque to Contemporary music, Dance and Jazz.

Dr Lev Atlas, who is currently principal viola at the Scottish Opera Orchestra and a senior lecturer in strings at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, completed his Phd research on Russian Chamber Music at the University of St Andrews and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2013.

Born in Glasgow, Scott Dickinson (viola) studied at the Music School of Douglas Academy and then in Manchester, London and Salzburg, where he won the Mozarteum Concerto Competition.

Mr Deacon is a lecturer of violin, viola and chamber music at the RCS. Mr Deacon also enjoys leading sectional rehearsals for the RCS Symphony Orchestra. Donnie also enjoys online teaching with students in the Middle East and North America.

Maya is the Leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra since 2011. Before that, she served as Leader of the Philharmonia Orchestra for 18 years, leading for many illustrious conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Gustavo Dudamel and Andris Nelsons. Solo highlights include performances with the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonics, Philharmonia Orchestra and RSNO. Her chamber music activities have taken her to the IMS Prussia Cove, Wigmore Hall in London, Edinburgh Festival and BBC broadcasts. She is Co-Artistic Director of the Hellensmusic Festival. She studied with Alice Schoenfeld at the University of Southern California and Rodney Friend at the Royal College of Music. Sharing good food and wine with others is one of her greatest pleasures.

Greg Lawson is a violinist, composer and conductor who has explored music from many genres. He studied violin at the Royal Northern College of Music with Malcolm Layfield and Eligh Goren and in West Berlin with Ilan Gronich.

Ms Wells is an advocate for increasing access to musical training. She was involved with several inner city initiatives in Baltimore and served as Chair of the Board of TUBA: The Uganda-Baltimore Alliance, providing mentorship to a brass band project in rural Uganda.

Fiona studied at the Juilliard School in New York, going on to become Principal Violist of the Royal Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras. As a chamber musician Fiona has appeared at halls and festivals all over the world, such as Carnegie Hall, Bargemusic, Lincoln Centre, New York, Festival da Camera, Lima, the Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh International Festival, Singapore Esplanade Hall and the Banff Centre.

Martin Storey has performed in many countries around the world as a soloist and chamber musician and has served as principal cellist with many British orchestras such as the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. For over eight years he held the position of Principal Cellist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and in 2019 he was appointed principal cellist of Scottish Opera.

Betsy is a founder member of the highly acclaimed Glasgow String Quartet and is also an active member of the RSNO Chamber Music Series. She teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at both the Junior and Senior Departments. She has performed as Guest Principal Cello with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, London Soloists Chamber Orchestra, RSNO, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Sinfonia and the Northern Sinfonia.

Ms Wells is an advocate for increasing access to musical training. She was involved with several inner city initiatives in Baltimore and served as Chair of the Board of TUBA: The Uganda-Baltimore Alliance, providing mentorship to a brass band project in rural Uganda.

Australian cellist Pei-Jee Ng joined the RSNO as Principal Cello in May 2023. From 2015 to 2022 he was Co-Principal Cello of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He won the 2008 Young Classical Artists Trust auditions in London and was the 2001 Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year.

Jane Atkins is one of Britain’s most diverse violists with performances encompassing multiple genres including Baroque to Contemporary music, Dance and Jazz.

Dr Lev Atlas, who is currently principal viola at the Scottish Opera Orchestra and a senior lecturer in strings at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, completed his Phd research on Russian Chamber Music at the University of St Andrews and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2013.

Born in Glasgow, Scott Dickinson (viola) studied at the Music School of Douglas Academy and then in Manchester, London and Salzburg, where he won the Mozarteum Concerto Competition.

Students from Duncan’s Studio have gone on to excel in institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, Colburn, Julliard and Guildhall. Many are now enjoying professional roles in quartets, orchestras and teaching environments.

Fiona studied at the Juilliard School in New York, going on to become Principal Violist of the Royal Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras. As a chamber musician Fiona has appeared at halls and festivals all over the world, such as Carnegie Hall, Bargemusic, Lincoln Centre, New York, Festival da Camera, Lima, the Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh International Festival, Singapore Esplanade Hall and the Banff Centre.

Huw Daniel was a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera, South Wales, and continued his education as an organ scholar at Robinson College, Cambridge, where he graduated with first-class honours in music in 2001. He then studied baroque violin at the Royal Academy of Music for two years with Simon Standage.

Alison teaches baroque cello and viola at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is also a qualified Feldenkrais Method practitioner and is combining her skills to explore how the way we move can influence the music we make.

Having undertaken his undergraduate studies at RSAMD (now RCS) under the tutelage of Iain Crawford (Co-Principal Bass BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra) Tom continued his double bass studies at the Juilliard School in New York with Timothy Cobb (then Principal Bass Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, now New York Phil) graduating with a Master of Music in 2006.

Iain Crawford is a graduate of Julliard School New York and a Fellow The Aspen and Waterloo music festivals. He is Assistant Principal with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Nikita is currently Principal Double Bass with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and has held the position since 2010. He has worked with many of the finest orchestras and played as a guest principal with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Amsterdam Sinfonietta and the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra.

Nikita regularly leads master classes around the world and teaches double bass at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Kai is currently Section Principal Double Bass at BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, having joined in 2023 after 18 months at English National Opera.

Kirsty Matheson spent twelve years in the US where she received her Masters Degree in Double Bass performance at CCM, studying with Albert Laszlo (former professor at CCM and Juilliard) before going on to study with Max Dimoff (principal of Cleveland Orchestra) and Jeff Turner (former principal of Pittsburgh Symphony and now professor at IU).

Kirsty was assistant principal bass with the Canton Symphony 2003-2006 and in 2006-2009 she had a tenured position with the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans.

Since returning to Scotland, Kirsty spent two years teaching for Sistema Scotland before embarking on a freelance performing career which has seen her work with all the Scottish orchestras. She has been a tutor for many youth orchestra bass sections including National Children’s Orchestra and NYOS. Kirsty is passionate about teaching and passing on her knowledge by teaching pedagogy to students at college level.

Kirsty is also a professional artist and paints music.

Visiting Artist in Classical Improvisation

International Visiting Professor in Contemporary Improvisation

Anto Pett graduated from the Conservatoire of Tallinn (now renamed Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre) as a pianist and composer. Since 1987 he has been teaching harmony and improvisation at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.