DIRECTOR

Iain McLarty first conducted the choir in November 2015.

He studied in the Soloist Class at the Royal Danish Academy of Music (DKDM) in Copenhagen with Giordano Bellincampi and Michael Schønwandt, concluding in a concert with Aarhus Symfoniorkester which included the Danish première of James MacMillan’s “The Confession of Isobel Gowdie”. He has also conducted the Copenhagen Philharmonic, Odense Symfoniorkester, Ålborg Symfoniorkester, Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester, Randers Kammerorkester, Prinsens Musikkorps and the DKDM Symphony Orchestra and assisted for productions with the Royal Danish Opera Academy. He is committed to performing contemporary music, giving numerous premières in both Scandinavia and the UK, and has taken part in masterclasses with the London Sinfonietta, Norwegian Radio Orchestra and BBC Singers.

In Scotland he has worked with groups across the country, performing much of the standard orchestral and choral repertoire as well as such diverse pieces as a concerto for birds and orchestra, choral works for forty individual voices, and a new opera based on reality TV. He is currently Musical Director of the Scottish Chamber Choir and Edinburgh Charity Orchestra, and has previously held positions as Sir Alexander Gibson Conducting Fellow with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus and Herrick Bunney Organ Scholar at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh.

Before taking up conducting he studied Mathematics and Music at the University of Edinburgh with his interest in two such seemingly contrasting fields leading to his featuring in the film “Le pere di Adamo” which was shown at the Rome Film Festival. He also has a Masters in Musicology, with his research focusing on classical and church music in Scotland. He is an experienced church musician in a broad range of styles and delivers training and develops resources in worship for the Church of Scotland. He is particularly interested in music and liturgy in an ecumenical context and is regularly involved in planning and leading worship at various national and international events.

The choir occasionally appoints a conductor trainee. In season 2017/18 Caroline Lesemann-Elliott was trainee choral conductor with the Scottish Chamber Choir –  assisting Iain McLarty our Music Director.