National Youth Orchestras of Scotland Hires First Music Director

English conductor Catherine Larsen-Maguire will assume the new role in 2024 for a three-year tenure

As National Youth Orchestras of Scotland’s (NYOS) first music director, conductor Catherine Larsen-Maguire will take up the role for three years as of 2024. 

The newly created position was inspired by two acclaimed NYOS Symphony Orchestra concerts led by Larsen-Maguire in April 2023 — involving Mahler’s Symphony No.7 and Lotta Wennäkoski’s Susurrus. 

Founded in 1979, NYOS now provides annual orchestral programs in classical and jazz music for over 600 students aged between eight and 25. 

With the NYOS, Larsen-Maguire has participated in discussions and hosted conducting workshops for orchestra members.

Before turning exclusively to conducting in 2012, she was Komische Oper Berlin’s principal bassoon player for 10 years. In 2018, she made her NYOS debut conducting the NYOS Senior Orchestra.

A Cambridge University, Royal Academy of Music, and Karajan Academy graduate, Larsen-Maguire was born in Manchester and is currently based in Berlin.

Her concert engagements have included the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle, Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mexico City’s Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM, London Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

As an educator, she has worked with the Young Israel Philharmonic and Young Euro Classic Ensemble, and given masterclasses in schools across Germany, Brazil, and Spain. She was also a jury member for the Besançon Competition between 2017 and 2021.

“[This role] is an enormous privilege and a wonderful responsibility,” said Larsen-Maguire. “This fantastic organization is just starting a new chapter in its history, and exciting times are ahead! I am very much looking forward to working with the visionary NYOS team, and most importantly the young musicians of Scotland, on the adventurous projects that are planned for the next three years. 

“As a young musician, I was a member of several youth orchestras, and I know how life-changing this experience can be; the music comes first, but it is about so much more than that,” she continued. “NYOS is a place where young instrumentalists can grow as musicians and people, and where friendships and memories that last a lifetime are created. I feel very lucky to be a part of it!”

“Catherine is an exceptional and forward-thinking musician whose professional experience and passion for developing young musicians gives her deep insight into working with youth orchestras,” added NYOS CEO Kirsteen Davidson Kelly.

“She instantly established a wonderful rapport with the NYOS Symphony Orchestra in Spring 2023, taking the orchestra beyond what seemed possible,” Kelly said. “Catherine shares NYOS’s vision of inspiring young people to realize their potential as musicians, and we are incredibly excited that NYOS will benefit from her remarkable energy and knowledge over the next three years, helping create inspirational, world-class musical experiences for Scotland’s outstanding young musicians and their audiences.”