SCOTTISH OPERA - Key Persons
Albert Herring is brought to life by conductor William Cole and a cast of top UK singers alongside Scottish Opera's 2024/25 Emerging Artists. The cast is led by Glen Cunningham (A Midsummer Night's Dream 2022) as Albert, with Susan Bullock (Candide 2022) as Lady Billows and Jamie MacDougall (Marx in London! 2024) as the Mayor, Mr Upfold.
Job Titles:
- General Director
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Appointed General Director
Alex Reedijk joined Scottish Opera as General Director in February 2006, following four years at the helm of The NBR New Zealand Opera. Prior to that he was Executive Director of the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts.
Job Titles:
- Cutter Manager ( Men 's Workroom )
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- Head of Sales and Channel Development
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- Member of the Stage Management Team
- Technical Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Stage Management Team
- Resident Deputy Stage Manager / Technical
Billy Connolly plays the gaoler Frosch in Die Fledermaus at the gala performance marking the re-opening of the Theatre Royal on 14 October. Connolly also reprises the role in the 1979 revival.
Job Titles:
- Orchestra Technician / HGV Driver
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- Donor Development Manager
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- Director of Marketing & Communications
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- Head of Audience Development
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- Receptionist, Production Studios
Director Daisy Evans with Glen Cunningham (Albert Herring) and the cast of Albert Herring in rehearsals. Scottish Opera 2024. Credit Julie Howden.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
David's career was as a civil servant in central government, firstly in London and later in Glasgow and Edinburgh. From 2008-23 he was Head of Cultural Sponsorship and Funding at the Scottish Government, responsible for its relationship with Scotland's national performing companies and collections, Creative Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland. He oversaw government investment in major cultural capital projects such as the establishment of the V&A Dundee, the Theatre Royal foyer and RSNO centre in Glasgow, the refurbishment of the National Portrait Gallery and King's Theatre in Edinburgh. David was awarded an MBE for services to the arts and culture in Scotland in the 2024 Birthday Honours.
David initially trained as a classical choral singer in Canterbury, Cambridge and London. In addition to opera and music, his interests include theatre, travel, museums and galleries. He is a Trustee of Music at Paxton, and he enjoys playing chamber music.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Stage Management Team
- Resident
- Stage Manager
Job Titles:
- Running Props Supervisor / Reception
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- Carpenter & CNC Technician
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- Interim Head of Fundraising
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- Data Manager ( Maternity Leave )
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- Data and Insights Manager
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- Music & Chorus Administrator
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Director
- Director of Planning
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- Director of Outreach & Education
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- Orchestra & Concerts Director
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- Web and Communications Administrator
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
Jessica was, until March 2018, the Regional Tribunal Judge for Social Entitlement Chamber in Scotland, managing a judicial team hearing approximately 20,000 Social Security and Criminal Injuries Compensation appeals every year and she continues to sit as a part-time tribunal judge. She also sits as a non- executive member of the Advisory Body of Social Security Scotland and is the Independent Observer for QC appointments in Scotland.
She gained a BA (Joint Honours) in History and Sociology at Stirling University and an LLB degree at Edinburgh University before working as a solicitor in Edinburgh, then as a lecturer in Law at Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities.
She is a former Board member of Theatre Objektiv and Playwrights Studio, and a Board member of NOISE (New Opera In Scotland Events).
Jessica has sung in choirs at school, university and beyond, including Paddy Cuneen's Sirens of Titan between 2005 and 2012.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Production Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
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- People & Culture Administrator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Stage Manager
- Member of the Stage Management Team
- Resident
Job Titles:
- Director
- 2024 / 25 Emerging Artist
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- Education Artist in Residence
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- Receptionist, Elmbank Crescent
Job Titles:
- GENERAL DIRECTOR
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
Loretta has 35 years' experience in theatre and opera focusing on strategy, management and finance. She is currently Executive Director of Opera Ventures Productions and Honorary Treasurer of the Association of British Theatre Technicians.
Loretta has provided consultancy services within the commercial theatre and subsidised opera sector and was CEO (2005-2013) and Executive Director (2003-2005) of English National Opera. Loretta trained as a Chartered Accountant, worked in financial services and was Managing Director and Finance Director of Really Useful Theatres (formerly Stoll Moss Theatres) over a 12-year period.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
Marcus is a chartered accountant, and a corporate financial advisor with a global professional services firm. He has worked with a wide range of private and public sector organisations to negotiate successful outcomes at speed.
He gained an MA (Joint Honours) in Accounting and Economics at Edinburgh University, and was the Chairman of Edinburgh University Trading and Investment Club, the largest non-sport society in the University.
Marcus lives in Edinburgh with his wife and son, and his other interests include musical theatre, cinema, travelling and trying new things.
Job Titles:
- Head of Outreach
- Senior Producer in Scottish Opera 's Education
Job Titles:
- Member of the Stage Management Team
- Technical Hire and Logistics Co - Ordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
May grew up in Clydebank, attending Kilbowie Primary and Clydebank High School. She graduated from Glasgow University in 1974, adding a teaching qualification from Jordanhill College in 1975.
For 33 years, she was a primary school teacher working at Yoker Primary then at Victoria in Govanhill (both Glasgow). Throughout her career she was an active member of the teachers' trade union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), negotiating at local, regional and national levels, as well as serving as National President in 1996/7. May was elected for four terms at the General Teaching Council for Scotland, serving on many committees, and was Convener of Council from 2007-2009.
May plays an active part with the Friends of Scottish Opera. She has chaired the Holiday Committee and enjoyed many wonderful opera trips with the Friends. She is a member of the Strathclyde Group and a keen participant in their activities, particularly Study Days. She's also passionate about the work of the Company's Education and Outreach programme.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- Member of the Stage Management Team
- Production Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Senior Manager of Performing Arts at Durham University
Nicola is Senior Manager of Performing Arts at Durham University. She has a PhD and BA in Music from Durham University and is due to complete her Masters in Business Administration with the Open University in 2024. Nicola was made an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2017.
Prior to relocating home to the North East of England Nicola was Chief Executive of British Youth Opera and her extensive career in opera includes stage management, general management and producing. She is a founder director of Opera UK.
In her spare time Nicola plays rugby for Gateshead RFC and volunteers with Girlguiding.
Job Titles:
- Trust Fundraising Manager
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- People & Culture Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Management Consultant and Executive Coach
Peta works as a Management Consultant and Executive Coach, supporting Chief Executives and senior leaders across a wide range of sectors. She is an experienced leader within Retail Operations, Capital Projects, Strategic Human Resources and Leadership Development. Peta has held a range of positions including - Store Director and Group Talent Director at Tesco PLC, Group Development Director at Asda/Walmart and Managing Partner at Saxton Bampfylde. She has also been a Non-executive Director within the Health Sector and Chair of Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).
Having grown up in a family of musicians and with a daughter training to be a professional dancer in London, the role that the arts play in the lives of young people is something she is passionate about. Peta has seen at first-hand how important the therapeutic benefits of music, drama and dance are to children and young people and believes it is vital that wide and diverse access to the arts is maintained for us all.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Chairman / Professor Dorothy Miell OBE - Vice Chair
Peter is a lawyer, and a partner in a Glasgow-based firm specialising in licensing. He has been involved in a number of arts organisations and trusts, both as legal adviser and as a board member, over the past 30 years.
Peter is a past Chairman of the Tron Theatre Company, past Chairman of Glasgow UNESCO City of Music and a former committee member of BAFTA Scotland.
Peter lives in Glasgow, and his other interests include film, theatre and walking.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Chairman of the Tron Theatre
Roberta Doyle has held Director-level roles in marketing, communications, digital, learning and fundraising within Scotland's largest cultural organisations, including the National Theatre of Scotland, Scottish Opera, the National Galleries of Scotland, Scottish Ballet, the Citizens' Theatre and with Glasgow City Council's Department of Performing Arts and Venues. She is a graduate in Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde
Roberta is Chair of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, a board director of the Donald Dewar Awards and a trustee of the William Syson Foundation. Roberta has served on a number of boards, committees and working groups including Glasgow School of Art, the Tron Theatre, the British Council's Cultural Diplomacy Group and the Scottish Arts Council's Implementation Steering Group for the creation of the National Theatre of Scotland.
She lectures widely in the UK and abroad, and has been a tutor, lecturer, speaker and mentor for, amongst others, the Creative and Cultural Skills Future Leaders' Programme, Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Langside College, UK Theatre, Arts Council England, Scottish Arts Council and Arts Council Ireland.
Roberta is a Justice of the Peace in the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, sitting at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Job Titles:
- Education Operations Co - Ordinator
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- Maintenance Support Technician
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- Cutter Manager ( Women 's Workroom )
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
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- Individual Giving Manager / General Director
Job Titles:
- FOUNDER
- Peter Ebert's Production of Berlioz 's the Trojans - the Complete Work in a Single Evening - With Janet Baker and Ronald Dowd
Sir Alexander Gibson founded Scottish Opera in 1962 and was Music Director from 1962 to 1987.
Sir Alexander Gibson's lifelong mission was to make classical music, and particularly opera, accessible to all. Throughout his career he was devoted to encouraging musicians and singers to rise to the very best of their abilities.
Born in Motherwell near Glasgow in 1926, Sir Alexander Gibson studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, at Glasgow University and - after serving with the Royal Signals - the Royal College of Music; the Mozarteum, Salzburg under Igor Markevitch; and under Paul Van Kempen at the Accademia Chigiana, Siena.
He went straight from his studies into a role as repetiteur at Sadler's Wells Opera in London, returning to Scotland as Assistant Conductor to Ian Whyte at the BBC Scottish Orchestra (now the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra) from 1952 to 1954. He rejoined Sadler's Wells as a staff conductor in 1954, and was appointed its Music Director in 1957 - at 31, the company's youngest. He conducted a total of 26 operas at Sadler's Wells, and made his Covent Garden debut in 1957 with Tosca.
Two years later, Sir Alex was offered the principal conductorship of the Scottish National Orchestra, a post he held until 1984. Taking advantage of spare weeks in the SNO's schedule, he seized the chance to found Scotland's first professional opera company.
Alexander Gibson conducts Peter Ebert's production of Berlioz's The Trojans - the complete work in a single evening - with Janet Baker and Ronald Dowd.