Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Formed in 1974, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra has won an international reputation for quality of performance in its innovative approach to the performance of a wide range of music has made it a respected pioneer. Joseph Swensen's first season as Principal Conductor, in 1996/97, attracted the acclaim of critics and audiences both in Scotland and south of the border. His recordings with the orchestra have added to a distinguished list of over a hundred recordings, many with the conductor laureate Sir Charles Mackerras. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is committed to serving the whole of the Scottish community, while sustaining its international rôle as Scotland’s foremost cultural ambassador. A busy touring schedule has taken the orchestra in recent years to over a hundred different cities, towns and villages in Scotland, while international tours have brought visits to the United States, the Far East and, on a regular basis, Europe. There has also been a close and fruitful relationship with the music of leading contemporary composers, including the ten Strathclyde Concertos by the orchestra’s Composer Laureate, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, commissioned by Strathclyde Regional Council for the orchestra’s principals, as well as a number of important works by the orchestra's Affiliate Composer, James MacMillan.
