Scottish Chamber Orchestra

The internationally celebrated Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is one of Scotland’s National Performing Companies. Formed in 1974 and core funded by the Scottish Government, the SCO aims to provide as many opportunities as possible for people to hear great music by touring the length and breadth of Scotland, appearing regularly at major national and international festivals and by touring internationally as proud ambassadors for Scottish cultural excellence. Making a significant contribution to Scottish life beyond the concert platform, the Orchestra works in schools, universities, colleges, hospitals, care homes, places of work and community centres through its extensive Creative Learning programme. The SCO has long-standing associations with many eminent guest conductors including Conductor Emeritus Joseph Swensen, Principal Guest Conductor Emmanuel Krivine , François Leleux, Pekka Kuusisto, Richard Egarr, Andrew Manze and John Storgårds. The Orchestra also enjoys close relationships with many leading composers and has commissioned almost 200 new works, including pieces by the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Sir James MacMillan, Martin Suckling, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Nico Muhly and Associate Composer Anna Clyne An exciting new chapter for the SCO began in September 2019 with the start of dynamic young conductor Maxim Emelyanychev tenure as the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor. The SCO is a charity registered in Scotland No. SC015039.