Royal Scottish National Orchestra Welcomes Back Two Members

Asher Zaccardelli will rejoin the orchestra as assistant principal viola and Jason Lewis as associate principal trumpet

Violist Asher Zaccardelli and trumpeter Jason Lewis are both returning members of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) having left the ensemble in 2022 and 2023, respectively. 

Zaccardelli has restarted his role performing in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto No. 2 across Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Lewis will be joining his colleagues on the stage from November 2025.

Hailing from Edinburgh, Zaccardelli studied at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, and has since worked regularly with the Scottish Ensemble, Hebrides Ensemble, Thirteen North, and 12 Ensemble. 

As guest principal viola, he has played with the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. 

Lewis attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and is also a RAM graduate. He rejoins RSNO from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), where he was Section Leader Trumpet. In 2024, he played solo with the CBSO in the UK Premiere of Mark Simpson’s Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra. 

“I can’t wait to rejoin the RSNO and perform with the Orchestra again in fantastic concerts across Scotland and the world,” Lewis said. “I’m also really looking forward to getting back to biking on Scotland’s amazing roads and spending more time with my family.”

“I’m delighted to be rejoining the RSNO,” Zaccardelli added. I’m looking forward to performing with the Orchestra again and playing in the RSNO’s fantastic viola section.”