The beginnings of the Orchestra

Formed in December 1935 by Scottish composer and conductor Ian Whyte, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is recognised as one of the UK’s leading orchestras. The winner of several awards, including a Royal Philharmonic Society Award (the only Scottish orchestra to do so) and four Gramophone Awards, its wide repertoire and flexible approach to format means it can perform a complex contemporary piece as a specialist ensemble alongside a major symphonic work. It has a busy broadcasting schedule on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Television and also records commercially.

Based at City Halls at the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City, the orchestra takes live music to towns and cities across Scotland every season, is in demand at major UK festivals and plays every summer at the BBC Proms in London. It has appeared in many of the great musical centres of Europe and has toured the USA, South America and been twice to China, most recently in May 2008. In Scotland, as well as being the leading supporter of living composers and new music, the orchestra is extremely active in the community with an innovative learning programme dedicated to bringing the inspiration of great music to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Scottish-born Donald Runnicles became the BBC SSO’s Chief Conductor in September 2009, a post which runs concurrently with his position as General Music Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. He succeeded Ilan Volkov (Chief Conductor of the BBC SSO from January 2003-September 2009) who now holds the post of Principal Guest Conductor.

October 2009

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra | City Halls | Candleriggs | Glasgow | G1 1NQ | 0141 552 0909 | bbcsso@bbc.co.uk