Brass

Saar Berger, French Horn

Saar Berger is an internationally acclaimed horn soloist, chamber musician and

Professor of Horn at the State University of Music Trossingen, Germany. A leading figure in contemporary music, he has premiered numerous solo and chamber works, many written specifically for him, and has performed and taught internationally.

Saar said: “I’m truly delighted and honoured to join the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as a Visiting Professor, and I’m very much looking forward to working with, inspiring and learning from the wonderful students at RCS.”

Ross Knight, Tuba

Ross Knight is Principal Tuba of l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and Tuba Teacher at the Hochschule der Künste Bern. A former member of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Karajan-Akademie, Ross has performed with leading orchestras across Europe and is an award winner at the BBC Young Brass Award and Aeolus International Competition.

Ross said: “It is a real privilege to accept this role of Visiting Professor in Tuba at the RCS. Being from Scotland and now living abroad, it means a lot to be able to pass on all I have learned to the next generation of brass players coming through this wonderful institution.”

Matilda Lloyd, Trumpet

Matilda Lloyd was the first trumpeter to receive the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award, she is also a former BBC Young Musician Brass winner and ARAM recipient. She performs internationally as a soloist with leading orchestras and was selected as an ECHO Rising Star, touring Europe’s leading concert halls.

Matilda said: “I was so impressed with the standard of the trumpet department at RCS at my Masterclass visit and I am thrilled to be deepening my relationship with the class and with the community here in Glasgow as the new Visiting Professor of Trumpet!”

Helen Vollam, Trombone

Principal Trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 2004 and the first woman appointed Principal Trombone of a London orchestra. She is a British Trombone Society Player of the Year and has worked with most of the UK’s orchestras, playing on numerous film and video game soundtrack recordings, including Star Wars: The Attack of the Clones, three Harry Potter films, Inception and Brave.

Helen said: “I’m very excited to be joining the fabulous brass faculty of the RCS and can’t wait to get started. I’ve always admired the ethos and friendly energy in the brass department and look forward to being a part of that.”

Composition

Craig Armstrong

Craig Armstrong is an award-winning Scottish composer whose work spans film, orchestral and contemporary music. His credits include Love Actually, Far from the Madding Crowd and Baz Lurman’s Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby. His honours include two BAFTAs, two Ivor Novello Awards, a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe and an OBE.

Craig sponsors a prize for emerging composers at RCS’s annual PLUG festival of contemporary music.

Craig said: “As a composer working in Scotland and internationally, I am excited to develop my ongoing relationship with the Conservatoire. The music department is very progressive, and I look forward to having a small part contributing this year.

Jazz

Martin Taylor, Jazz Guitar/Business

Multi-award-winning guitarist, composer and educator, Martin Taylor is widely considered to be the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz and fingerstyle guitar playing, with a career spanning more than five decades and over 100 recordings.

An MBE recipient and winner of 14 British Jazz Awards, he has performed worldwide and collaborated with artists including Stéphane Grappelli, Chet Atkins, George Harrison and Jeff Beck.

Florian Ross, Composition

Florian Ross is a jazz pianist, composer and arranger with 18 albums as a leader and extensive credits writing for ensembles, big bands and orchestras. Professor of Jazz Composition at the Hochschule für Musik & Tanz Köln, his honours include the WDR Jazz Prize and first prize in the Thad Jones Competition.

Keyboard

Daniel Ciobanu, Piano

An RCS graduate whose international career was launched by major competition successes, including the Silver Medal and Audience Prize at the Arthur Rubinstein Competition, Daniel has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw and Elbphilharmonie, and was the first Artist in Residence at the George Enescu Philharmonic.

Lukas Geniušas, Piano

Lukas Geniušas is an internationally acclaimed pianist who performs regularly at leading venues including Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.

A Silver Medal winner at the Tchaikovsky Competition and laureate of the Chopin Competition, he has received major recording honours including Gramophone and Diapason awards.

Strings

Rebecca Gilliver, Cello

Rebecca Gilliver has been Principal Cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra since 2002. Following acclaimed debuts at Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Weill Hall, she has appeared as a concerto soloist with the LSO, the Hallé and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, alongside an extensive chamber music and teaching career.

Igor Yuzefovich, Violin

Leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Leader of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Previously Concertmaster of the Hong Kong Philharmonic and Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Igor is a sought-after orchestral leader and educator who regularly works with leading orchestras worldwide.

Ivo-Jan van der Werff, Viola

Ivo-Jan van der Werff is a former member of the internationally renowned Medici String Quartet, performing more than 2,000 concerts in over 50 countries and recording extensively for leading labels.

In 2011, he published A Notebook for Viola Players, which consists of a series of exercises and explanations on and about viola technique. The latest, expanded edition is published by Oxford University Press.

Timpani & Percussion

Nick Woud, Timpani

Nick Woud is former Principal Timpanist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from 2002 to 2022. Previous to this, he joined the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, initially as a percussionist and, in 1984, was appointed its Principal Timpanist. Since 2022, he has remained active worldwide as a freelance performer, teacher and clinician.

Andy Barclay, Percussionist

Andrew Barclay is the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal Percussionist. He has appeared as Guest Principal with the Philharmonia, London Symphony and Royal Opera House orchestras, among others, and played on soundtracks such as on film soundtracks including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

Woodwind

Robert Winn, Flute

Former Principal Flute of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert has also appeared with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra. He held professorships in Weimar and Cologne and has mentored more than 50 students now performing in international orchestras.

Robert said: “To participate in the development of tomorrow’s musicians is a very worthy cause, and I look forward to helping where I can.”

Hélène Devilleneuve, Oboe

Principal Oboe of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and a laureate of several international competitions, including the International Oboe Competition of Japan. A soloist, chamber musician and educator, she has performed internationally, premiered contemporary works and recorded award-winning releases.

Helen said: “I am truly touched and delighted to be invited as Visiting Oboe Professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I absolutely loved my time at the RCS Double Reed Festival. I particularly appreciated the wonderful atmosphere, the openness and the warmth of the community, and I really enjoyed working with the students and the whole department. I am delighted to continue this collaboration.”

Full Biographies for Visiting Professors can be viewed at the School of Music