Five decades
FROM mindfulness sessions for cancer patients and performances around the world to ground-breaking hookups with artists and dancers, Glasgow-based Scottish Ensemble has been entertaining and inspiring music lovers for five decades.
As the group marks its 50th anniversary with a diverse season of concerts, artistic director Jonathan Morton looks back at the history of the celebrated institution.
“I first played with the group back in 1998, in my last year of studies at the Royal Northern College in Manchester,” he recalls.
“A space had become available in one of their projects, so I went up to Scotland as a one-off and two decades later, I’m still here.. “
He adds: “I was thrilled to be asked to become a member, it was a wonderful way to get into the profession, and I was delighted to become artistic director.”
He adds, smiling: “The ensemble was also where I met my future wife, Clio Gould, so it was important to me for many reasons.” Scottish Ensemble was formed in 1969 by influential publisher John Calder and violinist Leonard Friedman, who was leader of the Scottish Symphony Orchestra. “It started as a baroque ensemble, but over the years it has grown and developed to perform music from different periods, from mediaeval to the present day,” says Jonathan.
“It is an incredibly versatile group and we love putting together music from different periods of history, of different styles and genres.
“In fact, that has become one of our most distinctive features, being able to mix different styles and genres of music