Scottish mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow, the University of Toronto and the National Opera Studio in London. She was joint winner of the 2002 Kathleen Ferrier Award.

Donald Runnicles was born in Scotland and educated there and at Cambridge University. He made his North American debut in 1988 conducting Berg's Lulu at the Metropolitan Opera, and in 1989 was named General Music Director of the City of Freiburg, Germany. He made his 1991 Glyndebourne debut conducting Don Giovanni in the production observing the 200th anniversary of Mozart's death. Donald Runnicles has held the position of Music Director of San Francisco Opera since 1990 and takes up his post as Chief Conductor of the BBC SSO in September 2009