Staff A-Z

Heather Nicoll is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), and was appointed Head of Woodwind in 2007.

Choral Director for Junior Conservatoire and Vocal Performance, Kodály Musicianship Lecturer for BA Musical Theatre and School of Music, Conducting Lecturer for Musical Theatre masters programmes.

Principal Trombone, Scottish Opera

Principal Trumpet, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Martin is a lecturer on the Traditional Music course.

Mercy Ojelade is a professional actor with extensive experience touring nationally and internationally. In Scotland, Mercy has worked for the Traverse theatre, the Tron theatre, Perth Theatre, the National Theatre of Scotland and Vanishing Point. Beyond Scotland, Mercy has worked with Druid theatre in Ireland, Punchdrunk, the Globe Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

OBE

Linda has an honorary Doctorate of Music from St. Andrews University and was awarded an OBE for her services to opera.

Timothy joined the RSNO as principal clarinet in 2020, following five years as principal of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He is also a founding member and principal clarinet of the Aurora Orchestra, with whom he continues to perform regularly. As a chamber musician Timothy has performed across Europe, USA and the Far East with artists including Lars Vogt, Sir Antonio Pappano, Pascal Rogé and Joshua Bell. Timothy is passionate about music education and teaches at the music school of Douglas Academy as well as at RCS.

From exhilarating concertos to delicate chamber works, from mainstream Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms to the rarefied worlds of Messiaen, Tippett and Britten, Steven Osborne is at home with the widest range of styles and his carefully crafted recital programmes and idiomatic approach to contrasting works are both publicly and critically acclaimed.

Convenor of the Infrastructure Committee 

He studied clarinet and saxophone at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1976, whilst still a student, he formed the Myhra Saxophone Quartet with John Harle, Andy Findon and David Roach when they met as ushers at the World Saxophone Congress held at the Royal College of Music.

Member of the People and Culture, Nominations and Remunerations Committees

Described by Art China as a pianist with “refined technique and profound musical understanding,” Yicheng Pan, a Chinese-born pianist, enjoys a dynamic career as both a pianist and lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Thea oversees and teaches in the Music area of BA Musical Theatre (Music 1 and the Actor-Musicianship strand in the Ensembles Pathway module), as well as teaches, mentors and supervises on the MA and PGD Musical Directing programmes.

Alistair is a lecturer on the Traditional Music course.

Iain retired from professional singing in 2015 to concentrate on his teaching commitments. Iain has taught with Scottish Opera and Opera North. Worked with the Tokyo National Opera School, coaching in a production of Albert Herring. He has also taught for two years at the Dance School of Scotland’s music theatre department.

Jesse (She/Her) is the Head of Fair Access at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She leads RCS’s Fair Access Outreach and Access Provision, helping the team to design and run our exciting provision. She also leads our brand-new BA Arts with Community programme which launched in 2025. Her research focus is on play in higher education and working with care experienced and estranged people in the arts.

She is one of our named contacts for our students who have care experience or estrangement. You can find out about some of our work supporting care experienced and estranged people on the Fair Access portal page.

Jesse has worked as an interdisciplinary Teaching Artist for over 30 years across the UK in a wide range of formal and informal educational and community settings. These include higher educational institutions, theatres and hospitals. Fair Access has always been the core of her work.

Outside of work, Jesse likes going to gigs and shows, running in the hills, cooking and eating delicious food, giggling, meeting new people, and making clothes.

Ugnius is an acclaimed musician and award-winning pianist, teacher and performance art curator showcasing diverse musical talents across various genres.

Robin is a lecturer in Design at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.