Two of the UK’s finest orchestral musicians commit to Scotland’s national symphony orchestra.

James Clark and Maya Iwabuchi have been appointed Leaders of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). The appointments make them the nineteenth and twentieth Leaders since the Orchestra began in 1891, and the first time in the Orchestra’s history that two musicians share the leadership of Scotland’s national symphony orchestra.

James and Maya will be familiar to regular RSNO attenders. Scottish-born James was recruited as RSNO Principal Guest Leader, a newly-created position, in June 2010 but has now accepted the invitation to increase his commitment to the Orchestra – he will now appear with the RSNO for up to half of the orchestral year. James’ position runs in tandem with his role at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO), where he has been Leader since 2005. James has previously held leader positions with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) and more recently the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Maya has appeared with the RSNO as guest leader many times over the past year and has a wealth of experience as an orchestral and chamber musician. She has worked with James Clark for many years, leading the Philharmonia Orchestra since 1994. Maya has also been performing as a member of the Mobius Ensemble from 2004. She will be leading the RSNO next week for its Naked Classics concerts in Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Alongside their performance duties James and Maya will play a role in the organisation’s audition and appointment process, allowing the RSNO to benefit from their experience in the orchestral world.

RSNO Acting Chief Executive Kenneth Osborne: “The appointments of James and Maya are hugely significant and key to the RSNO’s continued development. These outstanding musicians’ track-records speak for themselves – they are two of the best orchestral musicians in Europe. Both James’ period as Principal Guest Leader and Maya’s as guest leader have made a major impact on the Orchestra and their leadership, both onstage and behind-the-scenes, will continue to bring concrete, tangible and satisfying results.”

RSNO Leader James Clark: “It is a marvellous honour to be appointed the Leader of this exciting organisation. With Maya, whom I have known and worked with for many years, I see many opportunities waiting to be explored and hopefully our long experience as leaders will give us the chance to further grow the Orchestra musically and dynamically. I certainly look forward to carry on working with Stéphane Denève for his final year as RSNO Music Director and I welcome Peter Oundjian, with whom I have already enjoyed working, and who I know will be a source of inspiration to us and a great benefit to audiences across Scotland.”

RSNO Leader Maya Iwabuchi: “’The wonderful musicians and staff of the RSNO have made me feel so welcome as guest leader and in the past year I have been impressed with, and moved by, their pride and passion for the organisation. I particularly admire the RSNO’s commitment in bringing new and younger audiences to the concert hall to experience the thrills of live performance. And I am especially pleased to work alongside Jim Clark again, with whom I’ve shared many invaluable collegial moments over the years.  I very much look forward to my future with the RSNO.”

Source: Royal Scottish National Orchestra