Staff A-Z

Former Principal Conductor, Scottish Ballet

Dr Sarah Hopfinger is a Lecturer in Research at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is a practitioner-researcher with specialisms in disability dance, chronic pain and crip theory, ecological performance, and intergenerational practice.

Roy Howat studied at the RSAMD and Cambridge University, where his doctorate formed the basis of his 1983 book Debussy in proportion. He combines international concert performance with research, which has included revelations about musical structure, performing and editorial issues. Among his publications are acclaimed critical editions of major works by Debussy, Fauré, Chopin and Chabrier, the book The Art of French Piano Music, chapters in numerous other books, and a wide range of CD recordings.

Principal Bassoon, RSNO.

David Hubbard is a lecturer of bassoon at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the bassoon tutor at the Music School of Douglas Academy. He  regularly coaches the bassoon section of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. He has been invited on several occasions to give masterclasses at Wells Cathedral School and Chethams School of Music, and is an examiner for the Royal Northern College of Music.

Vince has a long-standing career in film and TV.

Tom Hunter is a percussionist and timpanist based in Scotland, performing with top orchestras and playing new music as soloist and chamber musician. He is currently a percussionist of Red Note Ensemble and freelance and former Assistant principal Timpanist and percussionist for Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Norway

Fiona is a lecturer on the Traditional Music course. Learn more about Fiona on her Official Website

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.