Robert Baxter - Principal Conductor

Robert Baxter is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he studied trumpet. Since graduating he has worked, and continues to work extensively, with every professional orchestra in Scotland. He has also performed with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, Tenerife Symphony, New London Consort, Manchester Camerata, Bruckner Orchestra Linz and Flanders Symphony. He studied conducting with Ilan Volkov and Kristian Kluttig and has conducted the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra. He made his full debut conducting the RSNO when he stepped in at short notice for the composer/conductor Gavin Bryars in the British premiers of the composer’s Viola Concerto, a concert given in Tramway in Glasgow. Robert will be conducting the RSNO again in June 2022 and again next season. Robert is a regular guest conductor for Scottish Ballet and has conducted Cinderella, Dextera, Snow Queen, Nutcracker and most recently The Scandal at Mayerling. He has been MD for the film composer Craig Armstrong in an evening of the composer’s music. He has also been MD for the Scottish Concert Orchestra conducting in the SSE Hydro and for Celtic Connections in a televised concert from the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with the Chieftains and Kris Kristofferson. Robert is currently the MD for the Dunbartonshire Concert Band where, apart from regular concerts, he has commissioned and premiered new works, toured and recorded. He has led on hundreds of youth and community projects over the past 20 years, from Course Director for NYOS Spring Academy, RSNO All Together Now and the Gadfly Project with Dance House and the Helensburgh Orchestral Society. As Guest Conductor, Robert has conducted the Dunblane Chamber Orchestra, RSNO Community Orchestra, Amicus, Glasgow Chamber Orchestra and the Glasgow Orchestral Society. He also enjoys teaching trumpet and taking performance classes at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Department and for the Music School of Douglas Academy. Robert is currently chair of the Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust and the Artistic Director of a new rehearsal and performance arts venue in Bearsden, Kessington Hall. He was delighted to receive the Best Instrumental Group Music Director Award for 2021 from Making Music last year.