Catherine Larsen-Maguire, incoming Music Director, NYOS. She is captured conducting with her arms in the air holding a baton.

Photo: Miguel Barreto

Changing Faces

Larsen-Maguire joins National Youth Orchestras of Scotland

Arts Professional
2 min read

Conductor CATHERINE LARSEN-MAGUIRE will become the first Music Director of National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS). 

Larsen-Maguire will lead the orchestras from 2024 in the newly created post for a three-year tenure. 

Born in Manchester and now based in Berlin, she spent ten years as a principal bassoonist at the Komische Opera Berlin before exclusively conducting from 2012. 

Larsen-Maguire has worked with orchestras across Europe and in Central and South America, alongside major UK orchestras including the London Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. She made her NYOS debut in 2018, conducting the Senior Orchestra in spring and summer concerts.

With a passion for mentoring young musicians as both a conductor and educator, she has worked with various youth ensembles such as the Young Israel Philharmonic and Young Euro Classic Ensemble. 

NYOS Chief Executive KIRSTEEN DAVIDSON KELLY said Larsen-Maguire is “an exceptional and forward-thinking musician whose professional experience and passion for developing young musicians gives her deep insight into working with youth orchestras”.

“Catherine shares NYOS’s vision of inspiring young people to realise their potential as musicians, and we are incredibly excited that NYOS will benefit from her remarkable energy and knowledge over the next three years, helping create inspirational, world-class musical experiences for Scotland’s outstanding young musicians and their audiences,” she added. 

Larsen-Maguire called the appointment an “enormous privilege”.  

“As a young musician, I was a member of several youth orchestras, and I know how life-changing this experience can be; the music comes first, but it is about so much more than that. 

“NYOS is a place where young instrumentalists can grow as musicians and people, and where friendships and memories that last a lifetime are created. I feel very lucky to be a part of it!”