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 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 Working with Communities programme, 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.
As part of our core programme, we run an informal new music series, Noisy Nights, featuring new works from emerging and amateur composers selected from an open call.
Red Note is Associate Ensemble of the soundfestival in Aberdeen where we perform each year. We also work with them on composer development opportunities with the Go Compose! and Composer Development Workshops programme.
We are also Associate Contemporary Ensemble at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow where we take parts in programmes such as the Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship and PLUG festival.
We regularly perform at hcmf// and Lammermuir Festival and collaborate with organisations such as Artlink.
Red Note is a Delphian Records recording artist, releasing CDs of music by Eddie McGuire, John McLeod, David Wilde and Lyell Cresswell and James Dillon.
Red Note is supported by Creative Scotland and is a is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Network Partner supported by PPL.
“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
“All gratitude to Red Note Ensemble who, in high-definition audio, perform (James Dillon’s) commissioned works with razor precision” Liam Cagney, Gramophone
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 Working with Communities 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.
Originally from France, Flore is the Acting General Manager at Red Note.
To contact Flore Ducasse flore[at]rednoteensemble.com
Flore studied Economics and then completed a Master’s in Arts Management in Paris in 2020. After working as a Programme Coordinator at the Palace of Versailles she moved to Ireland to be the Coordinator of the Cork French Film festival and Programme Coordinator of the Alliance francaise de Cork. After these experiences Flore moved from France and is now living in Glasgow.
To contact Natalie Dobbs natalie[at]rednoteensemble.com
Nicola is the newest member of the team, supporting Red Note’s general and project administration, as well as its marketing activities.
To contact Nicola Edwards admin[at]rednoteensemble.com
Originally from Shetland, Nicola has recently returned to her native Scotland after living overseas. She was Domestic Manager at the New Zealand Music Commission | Te Reo Reka o Aotearoa where she managed the Industry Internship Programme, Capability Grants Programme and part of the NZ Music Month | Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa team. She was also very involved in the local DIY music scene, both playing and attending gigs. She is a keen bass player, and an avid collector of vinyl.
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 was Artistic Co-Director of 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 was also 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.
Ruth is a flute player, and educator. She divides her time mainly between performing with leading contemporary music group Red Note Ensemble, and working as lecturer in flute at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
She also performs solo recitals, and enjoys playing chamber music in any kind of small ensemble. She works regularly with pianist Scott Mitchell, and in a trio with harpist Sharron Griffiths and violist Scott Dickinson. She has appeared regularly at festivals all over the UK and Europe, and has recorded for Delphian, Mode, Metier and 7hings.
Ruth was for many years a player and co-artistic director of The Scottish Flute Trio. The trio commissioned many new works from composers such as Thea Musgrave, Edward McGuire, Sally Beamish, Gordon McPherson, Joji Hirota, Robert Dick and David Fennessy.
She has worked with a wide range of ensembles including the Edinburgh Quartet, Hebrides Ensemble, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and as a soloist with London Concertante. She has been on stage with theatre companies such as Dundee Rep and Theatre Cryptic and appeared at Counterflows Festival with experimental harpist Zeena Parkins.
She appears regularly on Radio 3 and Radio Scotland, and has performed live as a featured solo artist for Classic FM.
Teaching is a big part of Ruth’s life, and she has seen many successful students go into the profession. Alongside her work at RCS, Ruth enjoys teaching master classes and workshops around the UK and in Europe. She also teaches students at Glasgow University and is the founder of the Scottish International Flute Summer School which she directed for 20 years. She is in demand as a private teacher, and has taught many successful students at every stage of their musical training.
Ruth is a regular coach for NYOS courses, delivers CPD for instrumental teachers, and for many years was on the staff for Douglas Academy Music School.
As well as teaching flute players, and coaching chamber groups and ensembles, Ruth also enjoys working with composers to help them to develop their writing. She has taken part in many composers’ workshops, working at all levels from first time composers at school, through to young professional composers at the start of their careers. Recent composers’ workshops have been with RNCM, RCS, Glasgow University and Sound Scotland.
Ruth’s training was with David Nicholson at RSAMD, and then as a Wingate Scholar with Peter Lloyd at the Royal Northern College of Music. She also studied privately with Colin Lilley and Wissam Boustany. Prizes and awards include: Soroptomist International Society Bursary for young musicians, Prize winner in RSAMD chamber music and woodwind competitions, Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship, Bromsgrove Festival Young Musicians Platform, AT&T Istel Awards, Tunnell Trust, Manchester Mid Day Music Society recital prize, Hattori Foundation award winner and Wingate Scholarship for postgraduate study at RNCM.
Composition is a recent addition to Ruth’s work, and her music is published by Tetractys.
Timothy Lines enjoys a varied career as a clarinettist.
He is currently principal clarinet of the London Mozart Players and performs regularly as guest principal with many orchestras and ensembles such as BBC NOW, London Sinfonietta, Red Note Ensemble and the newly formed Knussen Chamber Ensemble.
Timothy conducts termly concerts with the New Perspectives Ensemble at the Royal College of Music, specialising in performing music by living composers. He has also conducted the RCM Chamber, Philharmonic and Symphony orchestras.
He is a clarinet coach for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and took the role of assistant conductor with them during their Spring 2019 course.
He has been a clarinet professor at the Royal College of Music since 1998 and he was appointed a Fellow there in 2016.
From 1999 to 2003, Timothy was principal clarinet of the London Symphony Orchestra, becoming chairman of the orchestra during his last year there. From from 2004 to 2005 he was section leader clarinet of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
He was principal clarinet of the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Revolutionaire et Romantique from 2003 until 2023, performing on period instruments.
Mark O’Keeffe has held the post of principal trumpet with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra since December 1996. In addition to his career with the BBCSSO, he plays chamber music with Red Note Ensemble.
Mark has been guest Principal Trumpet with the World Orchestra for Peace, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera House Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Halle Orchestra and Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
He was awarded a Creative Scotland bursary in 2004 for a collaborative project with Theatre Cryptic.
He teaches at the RCS Glasgow, the RNCM Manchester and was awarded a distinguished alumnus from the CIT Cork School of Music in 2018.
Tom Hunter is a percussionist and timpanist based in Scotland, performing with top orchestras and playing new music as soloist and chamber musician.
Tom is percussionist for Red Note Ensemble specialising in contemporary music. Giving solo and chamber music performances in concerts, collaborations, international tours and recordings.
In his orchestral career Tom performs regularly with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra on timpani and percussion. He has also worked with many of the UK’s leading orchestras including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Tom was appointed Assistant Principal Timpanist 2005-2009 with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Norway and was a founder member of the Bergen Pipe Band, training up their first drum corps.
Tom graduated from RSAMD in 2002, where he won the Governors’ Recital Prize for Percussion and performed in the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2000 percussion final.
Tom is a percussion tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland as well as at St Mary’s Music School.
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.
David Sinclair is an experienced fundraising and governance professional.
David recently joined The National Lottery Community Fund as Head of Business Support in Scotland. Immediately prior to that he spent 10 years with the music-based social change charity Sistema Scotland, latterly leading on fundraising, evaluation and governance.
David is a keen but very amateur musician and a believer in the power of music to change lives. He is particularly interested in the work of Red Note Ensemble supporting performers and composers in the initial stages of their careers, and in Red Note’s access, engagement and participation programme.
Daniel has extensive experience in the field of contemporary music as a flautist, composer, and editor. He currently works for the collecting society PRS for Music, where he represents the interests of classical composers and publishers. Originally from Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, Daniel is passionate about ensuring that all musicians are afforded opportunities regardless of their socioeconomic background.
Daniel loves Red Note’s unflinching commitment to new music, which stretches from grassroots work in schools to commissioning major new work from Scottish composers.
Isla started her career as a marketing intern for the London Symphony Orchestra, where she went on to hold various marketing roles, before moving to the Philharmonia Orchestra and then to Southbank Centre in London. She then relocated northwards and to her current role as Head of Marketing at Liverpool Philharmonic where she works on a programme of over 400 events a year.
A self-titled ‘audience advocate’, Isla is excited to be joining the Red Note board in 2024 because of a shared passion for bringing new music to new audiences.
In her spare time she enjoys exploring new cities, going to concerts and the theatre, and is half-committed to learning to play squash.
Peter Nicholson is a cellist, improviser, composer, and educator. Often working collaboratively, he has has created music for theatre, dance and film, including projects with National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Dance Theatre.
In 2023, Peter founded New String Collective, an improvising string orchestra.
As a passionate educator advocating for inclusion, Peter has extensive experience in music education, most recently serving as Director of Music at Sistema Scotland.
Mareike is currently completing a Master in Arts, Festival and Cultural Management at Queen Margaret University. Originally from Germany, she has been involved in the classical music scene in her younger years.
She was drawn to Red Note as she feels passionate about access to new music, especially fostering curiosity. Mareike joined as a trustee in training as she wanted to expand her knowledge and experience of this important role.
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.
