Scottish Sinfonia Leader - Richard Gratwick

Richard Gratwick - Leader of Scottish Sinfonia

Richard was born in darkest North Yorkshire, and attended nearby Yarm School. Here he started playing the violin aged seven, taught by Martin Bainbridge, ex-leader of the London Festival Ballet Orchestra. He studied with Martin for the next ﬁfteen years, mostly on a strict diet of scales and Kreutzer, during which, in 2001, Richard was admitted a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music.

In 2003 Richard went up to Magdalen College, Oxford, to read mathematics and philosophy. Here he led both the Oxford University Philharmonia and Oxford University Orchestra, and gave performances of the Bruch and Beethoven concertos. In 2004 he returned as a guest to Yarm and gave a charity recital raising over £1100 for Cancer Research UK. After graduating he studied for a PhD in mathematics at the University of Warwick. Here he took violin lessons with Roger Coull, led the University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra, and gave a performance with them of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. For ten years he led the newly-founded Oxford Spezzati Orchestra, also appearing as soloist with them in Vaughan Williams’ "The Lark Ascending", Vivaldi’s "Winter", and, during a tour to Reims in 2013, Mozart's A major Violin Concerto. He has also led the Oberon Symphony Orchestra and the Oxford Chamber Orchestra, and is a regular member of the St Endellion Summer Festival Orchestra.

In 2016 Richard moved to Scotland to work at the University of Edinburgh, where he is now a Lecturer in Mathematics. He has played with Scottish Sinfonia regularly since arriving in the city.

In January 2023, Scottish Sinfonia was delighted to welcome Richard as its latest leader.

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Richard Gratwick - Leader of Scottish Sinfonia