Shelagh McKail

 While at the University of Glasgow Shelagh studied viola with Jimmy Durrant before completing her postgraduate diploma at the Royal Academy of Music under the guidance of Martin Outram. She is deeply grateful to the Robertson Scholarship Trust, Sir James Caird’s Travelling Scholarships Fund and the EMI Music Sound Foundation for their generous support of her studies. During her time at the Academy, she was awarded both the Bache Fund Prize and the Maimie and Ruth Waddel Memorial Prize for String Players.

She has participated in masterclasses with distinguished violists including Simon Rowland-Jones, Susie Mészáros, Hartmut Rohde, Tatjana Masurenko, Andra Darzins, and Garfield Jackson.

Following her studies, Shelagh joined Southbank Sinfonia before returning to Scotland to take up her current position with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

As a musician and educator, Shelagh enjoys a varied career. She is Sub-Principal Viola No.4 with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera and has also performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of Opera North, Manchester Camerata, and Children’s Classic Concerts. Career highlights include appearances at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall and the Adelaide Festival.

Shelagh is a member of Glisk, a string quartet dedicated to championing contemporary music. The quartet recently commissioned Stories of People and Trees, a series of new works. As a chamber musician, she has collaborated with ensembles such as the Edinburgh Quartet, Maxwell Quartet, Berkeley Ensemble, and regularly performs with the Belford Quartet. Notable performances include Strauss’s Sextet from Capriccio at Wigmore Hall and Schubert’s Octet at the Royal Opera House.

Alongside her performing career, Shelagh is committed to education. She teaches upper strings for South Ayrshire Council and tutors regularly for the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, West of Scotland Schools Orchestras, and the Benedetti Foundation.