Scottish Conductor James Loughran has Died, Aged 92

Loughran was conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Hallé Orchestra 

Born in Glasgow in 1931, James Loughran was noted for his time as chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) from 1965 to 1971, and as the principal conductor of the Hallé Orchestra (succeeding Sir John Barbirolli) from 1971 to 1983 and conductor laureate until 1991.

He also served as principal guest conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales between 1987 and 1990, and was the five-time leader of the Last Night of the BBC Proms — Loughran was the one who introduced Auld Lang Syne to the Proms, which is now a staple of the Last Night. In 1974, he conducted the inaugural concert of the newly-formed Scottish Chamber Orchestra at Glasgow City Halls. 

Additionally, Loughran was the first Briton to be a principal conductor of a major German orchestra (Bamberg Symphony Orchestra from 1979 to 1983) and was the principal conductor of Denmark’s Aarhus Symphony Orchestra from 1996 until 2003. He was also a guest conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

A graduate of St Aloysius College and Glasgow University, Loughran was a talented pianist from a young age and won recognition by winning the televised Philharmonia Orchestra’s conductor competition in 1961, from which he became assistant conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

In 1964, he made his opera debut at Covent Garden and was selected by Benjamin Britten to be music director of the English Opera Group. 

As well as receiving a CBE honors in 2010, Loughran was a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Scottish Conservatoire) and became an honorary conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. 

His first wife and son predeceased him. He is survived by his son, Angus Loughran — the noted sports journalist and broadcaster — and grandsons.

“My father was very proud to be Scottish, and loved the great city of Glasgow,” Angus told The National. “Sadly he latterly suffered from dementia but was well cared for by the NHS and the staff of the Mugdock House Care Home in Bearsden where he passed away on Wednesday, June 19.”

“We are saddened to hear that the esteemed Scottish conductor James Loughran CBE passed away peacefully last week in Glasgow at the age of 92,” the BBC SSO posted on Instagram. “Loughran’s impact on classical music at the BBC has been immense … His musical legacy was firmly cemented in various high-profile engagements that followed … Our thoughts are with his family and all those who he touched through his exceptional musicianship, magnetic charisma and warmth.”

Our condolences to Mr. Loughran’s family, friends, and colleagues.