A young Angus musician and composer is embarking on an exciting new chapter of her flourishing career after landing a prestigious mentoring opportunity with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Georgina MacDonell Finlayson from Glenesk is one of three woman chosen for the SCO’s New Stories initiative which will see them work with leading figure Anna Clyne, the orchestra’s associate composer, in a two-year project.
The selection is the latest stage of a successful summer for the 23-year-old, who despite living in one of the most remote parts of Angus has been involved in a busy programme during the pandemic which included an online Auld Lang Syne performance bringing together more than 500 musicians from 130 countries.
New Stories aims to support the young composers in bridging the gap between study and the profession, with the first stage being the creation of new works inspired by the art of storytelling.
Edinburgh University graduate Georgina, who is moving to Manchester shortly to pursue a violin Masters at the Royal Northern College of Music, said she was thrilled to be given the mentoring opportunity.
She is passionate about making music and the arts available to everyone, and plans to continue using the inspiration of the area where she grew up and her love of storytelling in future projects and compositions.
She is part of the Nevis Ensemble, which brought together an international array of musicians and singers for the Auld Lang Syne performance which has now been viewed more than 7,500 times since it was put together.
Georgina added: “I am also currently writing and recording the music for a short film about a secret box of letters found at the Glenesk Folk Museum, Miss Lindsay’s Love in Lockdown, a micro-commission from Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival which will be premiered online by them in the middle of October.”
She is also currently writing another piece of music set to be premiered at Aberdeen Sound Festival the same month.
“The mentoring project will involve traditional craft and practices and new music crossing new boundaries, and it is really exciting for me to be bringing these two things together,” said Georgina.
“The past few months have been quite busy with various different projects and it has been interesting to connect with people all over Scotland, and much further afield.
“I have been doing a lot of online teaching, and in May took up an extra role with the Nevis Ensemble as sustainability manager so it has been amazing to see how people have engaged in new ways.”
