Scotland’s Contemporary Music Ensemble
Since its formation in 2008, Red Note Ensemble has taken up a leadership position as Scotland’s contemporary music ensemble, performing and developing both an extensive, highly-varied and critically-acclaimed programme of new music.
Since its formation Red Note Ensemble has taken up a leadership position as Scotland’s contemporary music ensemble, performing and developing an extensive, highly-varied and critically-acclaimed programme of new music to the highest standards, and taking new music out to audiences across Scotland and internationally.
Red Note performs the established classics of contemporary music, commissions new music, develops the work of new and emerging composers and performers from Scotland and around the world, and finds new spaces and new ways of performing contemporary music to attract new audiences. Within Scotland the ensemble has performed from the Outer Hebrides to the Borders in concert halls, bothies, pubs, clubs and aircraft hangars, amongst other unusual settings. Outwith the UK it has a growing international reputation, performing to great acclaim at festivals in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Australia in recent years. The ensemble also undertakes an extensive programme of Access, Engagement and Participation (AEP) work, focusing particularly upon working with younger and older people, people with multiple disabilities, people living in areas of multiple deprivation, and also working to address inequalities of access and representation due to race/ethnicity and gender imbalances. We also undertake an extensive performer and composer development programme within schools, universities and conservatoires nationally and internationally.
Red Note’s work in 2021 started with internal performances of Arnold Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire and John Adam’s Shaker Loops as part of the Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. We have had to adapt our programme to the new circumstances brought by the pandemic, but we continued to place the development of new talent at the centre. As resident ensemble at the RCS, we recorded 5 new pieces by Erin Thomson, Callum Huseyin, Gabriel Stenborg, Evan Bailey and Ellie Cherry for PLUG 2021, RCS’ annual festival showcasing the best works from the next generation of composers. In partnership with soundfestival, we performed a special edition of Noisy Nights, an outlet to hear emerging new musical ideas and voices, showcasing the talent of neurodiverse composers (Jason Hodgson, Joe Stollery, Siôn Parkinson, Sera Wright , Zoe Cutler and Rylan Gleave). Alongside this, we had our first in-person concert since the start of the pandemic at soundfestival. This included Phil Cashian’s Scenes from the Life of Viscount Medardo (UK Premiere), where we were joined by Richard Watkins, former Principal Horn of the Philharmonia Orchestra. The programme also consisted of World Premiere from Rylan Gleave, UNSUNG II; even from a loved one, and Aileen Sweeney, Feda. We also returned to the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Made in Scotland Showcase, live-streaming Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ iconic concert-hall work Vesalii Icones from Greyfriars Kirk, in our production of Iconnotations with Matthew Hawkins.
Our Autumn Block was packed with perfomances, development and commissions. We performed at Horsecross Perth Concert Hall and Theatre, Lammermuir Festival and soundfestival 2021, featuring works from Tansy Davies, James Dillon, Edwin Hillier, Luke Styles and Ailie Robertson. We also had a return to our AEP work in Easterhouse, as Brian Irvine and Western Jerwood fellow, Martina Corsini, began the latest development on A Childs Guide to Anarchy, which is due to be recorded and released later in 2022. Martina was also commissioned by Red Note, alongside co-composer Manuel Figueroa-Bolvaran. Together, they composed the mutli-meida work, sub mari, which premiered during the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow. Simultaneously, we began developments on a new co-commissioned opera project with soundstreams called New Normal. Composers Anna Pidgorna and Brian Irivne are each composing for the ensembles, which is due to premiere in 2022/23. We rounded off the year with James Dillon’s world premiere of EMBLEMATA:Carnival at hcmf//. The work has been recorded alongside his previous commission, Tanz/Haus:Triptych for a CD release with Delphian Records later in 2022.
Red Note is Associate Contemporary Ensemble at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow and Associate Ensemble of the soundfestival Aberdeen.
Red Note is a Delphian Records recording artist, releasing CDs of music by Eddie McGuire, John McLeod, David Wilde and Lyell Cresswell to great acclaim, and a 5th CD – of music by James Dillon – released in 2022.
Red Note is also a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner and a Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries host.
“The premiere was delivered with superb focus and intensity by Scotland’s top contemporary music ensemble, Red Note, who seem incapable of being dazed by anything and who add their own wit and bright spirit to whatever they tackle” Kate Molleson, The Herald
“Red Note Ensemble’s blistering account of three radical masterpieces….a magnificent achievement in dazzling venue” David Kettle, The Scotsman
“Red Note Ensemble is a Scottish success story.” Anna Picard, The Times
“Red Note Ensemble, superb Scottish specialists in the contemporary, deliver ever piece with precision and relish.” BBC Music Magazine
“(Red Note’s pianist) Simon Smith knocked off outrageously elaborate figuration as though a tune on a pub piano.” Paul Driver, Sunday Times
Jacqueline Shave received her formal training at the Royal Academy of Music, but drew her particular performance inspiration and love of chamber music from her time at the Britten-Pears School in Snape. On leaving the Academy she became Leader of English Touring Opera, but soon made the decision to dedicate herself to chamber music, leading the Schubert Ensemble and then co-founding and leading the Brindisi Quartet for fifteen years.
She has appeared as guest leader with many groups including the Nash Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Composers’ Ensemble, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She was appointed leader of Britten Sinfonia in 2005. In 2013 she additionally became leader of the Red Note Ensemble, a contemporary music group in Glasgow.
In 2011 she took a year away to explore other musical pathways, which resulted in Postcards from Home, a world music/jazz CD in collaboration with Kuljit Bhamra (tabla) and John Parricelli (guitar). She also presented a complete Beethoven string quartet cycle on the Hebridean island of Harris, and gave a free improvisation concert in a cave on Hestur, in the North Atlantic Faroe Islands.
Jacqueline plays on a Nicola Amati violin, from 1672.
Robert studied with some of the finest cellists in the world and has held principal positions in the Philharmonia, Scottish Opera and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He was a founding member of the Brindisi Quartet, the Chamber Group of Scotland, the Da Vinci Trio and Red Note Ensemble.
Robert studied with some of the finest cellists in the world and has held principal positions in the Philharmonia, Scottish Opera and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He was a founding member of the Brindisi Quartet, the Chamber Group of Scotland, the Da Vinci Trio and Red Note Ensemble.
Robert has recorded extensively including Complete Cello Works of Sally Beamish, Cello Works of Giles Swayne, ‘Tree o’ licht’ Solo Cello Works by William Sweeney, Rachmaninov/Shostakovich: Sonatas For Cello And Piano with Graeme McNaught on piano, The Cellist of Sarajevo by David Wilde. His new album Songs and Lullabies will be released in September and features 19 new solo cello works and all proceeds will go to UNICEF.
Robert is a Senior Professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He plays on a fine cello, a copy of a 1695 Rugeri made in 2014 by Melvyn Goldsmith and a fine bow by the Scottish maker Howard Green.
Composer John Harris is artistic director and chief executive of the Red Note Ensemble. John was appointed Festival Director of New Music Dublin in 2017; he was previously artistic director of the Paragon Ensemble and general manager of the Hebrides Ensemble. His work includes operas, chamber music, theater music and music for film, including work for Scottish Opera, the Sound Festival Aberdeen, Tapestry Opera Toronto, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel 4.
Louise Martin is Director of Access, Engagement and Participation responsible for the outreach and creative learning programme, finding underserved audiences and new ways of bringing Red Note’s music to them and engaging with them. Louise worked as a high school music teacher before running away with the circus, where she branched out from classical cello and piano into rock, punk, ska, country, theremin, musical saw and stilt-walking.
To contact Louise Martin louise[at]rednoteensemble.com
Following postgraduate MMus study in Ethnomusicology, and Music in the Community, she settled back in Edinburgh. She now works as a freelance musician in a variety of contexts. Louise has led creative music projects for organisations such as East Lothian and Highland Councils, Royal Lyceum Theatre, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Ensemble; has taught Music in the Community at Edinburgh University and Napier University; has organised education work for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra; works with adult amateur musicians as Musical Director of the Merchant Sinfonia (Glasgow) and Stockbridge and New Town Community Orchestra (Edinburgh); and plays cello and musical saw with the pan-European band La Banda Europa.
Sarah first joined the team as our admin intern and Admin and Communications Coordinator, and has now taken up her role as General Manager. She has completed her studies at Queen Margaret University on the MA Arts, Festival and Cultural Management course. Sarah provides day-to-day support in the office, helping organise upcoming projects, meetings and general office management.
To contact Sarah Mills sarah[at]rednoteensemble.com
Originally from Northern Ireland, Sarah moved to Glasgow in 2016 to study Music at the University of Glasgow, where she graduated with Honours in 2020. This is where she gained a great appreciation for contemporary repertoire, as well as exploring access and education in music. Alongside her main studies in performance as a classical singer, Sarah had the opportunity to study under the tutelage of composers Bill Sweeney, Jane Stanley and Kevin Leomo.
After her experience as Director of Performing Arts with the Camp America Summer Scheme, alongside her other community based arts projects, Sarah decided to pursue a career in arts management, leading to her studies at QMU. From this, she has developed a wide range of skills in project management, marketing and strategic planning as well as critically reflecting on contemporary issues facing the cultural industry.
After obtaining a MA in Arts and Cultural Management at Université Paris-Dauphine PSL in Paris, Flore moved across the sea to the UK and she now joins the team as our Admin and Communications Assistant.
To contact Flore Ducasse admin[at]rednoteensemble.com
Recently settled in Glasgow, Flore is originally from France where she studied Arts Management in Paris for 5 years. After working as a Programme Coordinator at the Palace of Versailles she moved to Ireland to work as a coordinator on the Cork French Film festival. She then completed her master’s in Paris before moving to the UK in 2020.
Fiona started her career as a producer/director in corporate communications working for clients that included Chase, BP, Vickers and Swiss Re. She then moved into a marketing role as Head of Marketing for a group of five companies before relocating to Scotland.
Here she has worked in the public and private sector including as Depute Director Corporate Communications at the University of Glasgow, Head of Marketing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and currently Marketing Director at Strathallan School in Perthshire.
In her spare time she indulges her love of video production by making short films, is a lover of music and theatre and gets out cycling and hill walking whenever she can.
Ian has spent his entire working life in music. The first 25 years of his professional life were spent as a horn player, with the RSNO/Royal Scottish National Orchestra and with the London Symphony Orchestra. He was also the founding director of Scottish Brass.
In 1994 Ian joined the UK Musicians’ Union as Scottish/Northern Ireland Organiser and founded the UK Folk & Roots department. Ian was a member of the Board of Governors at the RSAMD and an Executive Board member of the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund.
Ian was appointed as Head of Music at the Scottish Arts Council/Creative Scotland in 2005, where he was privileged to co-found the Youth Music Initiative, which has now seen more than £150M in additional government investment targeted at instrumental and singing teaching. Ian has earned a wide international reputation through successfully promoting the music and musicians of Scotland, none more so as one of the founders of Showcase Scotland hosted by Celtic Connections in Glasgow-now grossing over £3M in artist bookings over four days.
In 2013, Ian was elected to the executive board of the European Music Council, based in Bonn, Germany and in 2015 was elected President/Chair of the EMC Board. Ian also serves on the International Music Council Executive Board, based at Unesco in Paris.In January 2016 Ian was elected to the board of the International Society for the Performing Arts based in New York and in January 2017 was appointed Treasurer and member of the ISPA Executive Board. In 2017, Ian joined the board of multi-media arts organisation; Cryptic who also programme and direct Sonica.
Lindsey is a commercial solicitor who has worked for the last 25 years in private practice, in-house in the higher education sector and most recently in industry. She has lived in the United States, Germany and The Netherlands but has always been drawn back to Glasgow!
Lindsey joined the Board in 2021. She is passionate about the importance of engaging schoolchildren in music from an early age, with a particular interest in woodwind instruments. In her free time, she enjoys trail running, writing poetry, cooking and wine.
Composer John Harris is artistic director and chief executive of the Red Note Ensemble. John was appointed Festival Director of New Music Dublin in 2017; he was previously artistic director of the Paragon Ensemble and general manager of the Hebrides Ensemble. His work includes operas, chamber music, theater music and music for film, including work for Scottish Opera, the Sound Festival Aberdeen, Tapestry Opera Toronto, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel 4.
