Staff A-Z

Jane Irwin studied music at Lancaster University and sang at the Royal Northern College of Music as a mezzo. As a concert and recital singer, she has appeared regularly in Britain, Europe and America. In 2002 she made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony under Mariss Jansons. She has sung for the BBC Proms, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Berlin Festival, the Concertgebouw and the Musikverein.

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.

Scottish-Icelandic percussionist Signy Jakobsdottir is to be found regularly gigging, touring, recording, and accompanying dance.

Bojana is an artist and researcher working at the intersection of performance, participation and migrant rights. Her performances, installations, texts, and non-denominational works have appeared in physical and digital spaces in the UK, Serbia, and internationally, including in Tate Modern (London), Center for Art on Migration Politics (Copenhagen), and in collaboration with Home Live Art (Hastings) and Performing Arts Hub (Norway). Bojana frequently collaborates with audiences excluded from cultural institutions, investigating what audience agency can mean institutionally. She thinks of migrancy as a method and art practice, not just a lived reality.

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.

Principal Trombone, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Scott Johnson was previously a tutor at the Conservatoire du Kremlin-Bicetre, Parisandalso at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD), London. He studied voice at the GSMD under David Pollard, graduating in 1997 and subsequently completed a PGCE and MA (graduating with Distinction) at London University, Institute of Education. He taught music in a secondary school for several years, and for 11 years was also organist and Director of Music at a parish church in Essex.

Peter is a Piano lecturer on the Jazz course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Hilary lectures for The Centre for Voice in Performance CViP at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, having previously taught at a number of major UK drama schools including Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Mountview Theatre School, Rose Bruford College, and the Guildford School of Acting.

Stephanie studied at the Royal Northern College of Music from 2000-2005. Following on from her studies, Stephanie began her freelance career playing with orchestras including the Halle, BBC Philharmonic, Opera North, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonia, CBSO, Scottish Opera and Manchester Camerata. She also played on tour with Grammy Award- winning singer Adele. She began her current positions as Sub-Principal 4th horn at the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 2009 and began tutoring at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2012.

In 2023 Stephanie completed a PG Diploma in Learning and Teaching in Performing Arts and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.

Stephanie has a passion for education and regularly participates in workshops and projects with the BBC SSO in primary and secondary schools and Tunes for Tots with pre- school children. This work has also included sessions in HMP Low Moss Prison. Stephanie is one of the regular coaches for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Stephanie enjoys chamber music and is a member of the Rookh Horn Quartet, she also frequently joins colleagues from the BBC SSO for chamber concerts.

Alasdair is an experienced timpanist and percussionist whose wide-ranging interests highlight the demands made of a modern professional musician.

They formerly performed with the Opera of Bologna, Italy. 

As Head of Engagement, Deborah works with her team to develop and deliver the full range of Engagement services, programmes and initiatives at the Conservatoire. She has recently developed the Engagement Strategy (25/26 to 29/30), which is central to the team’s ambitions and defines work across four areas: Creative Enterprise, Innovation, Public Engagement, and Engagement Culture & Infrastructure. Deborah works alongside Knowledge Exchange colleagues in Scotland and through Conservatoires UK to advocate for the specific strengths and challenges of small specialist creative arts institutions.

David is a professional freelance percussionist who frequently performs with Scotland’s top orchestras and touring productions. He has a passion for drum kit and world percussion and enjoys performing percussion in musical theatre and cabaret acts. David maintains a diverse teaching career.

Yoon-Kyung has built a long and distinguished career dedicated to nurturing musical talent since the 1990s. Her experience spans teaching musical theory and providing instruction in both group settings and one-on-one lessons, catering to the diverse needs and learning styles of her students. Her comprehensive approach to music education ensures students not only achieve technical proficiency, but also develop a deep understanding of musical theory, enhancing their overall musicianship.

As a seasoned teacher and accompanist, she possesses the expertise to guide students at various stages of their musical journey, including preparing them for professional qualifications such as those offered by the ABRSM. Additionally, she has been instrumental in helping students with ABRSM grade exams as an accompanist and teacher and in securing music scholarships.