Gordon Bragg has an extremely diverse musical life as a violinist, conductor and pianist, performing regularly throughout Scotland and the UK. Gordon is Sub-principal Second Violin of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, performing across the UK and touring worldwide. Highlights with the orchestra include touring with Marie João Pires, performances with Emmanuel Krivine, and working with current principal conductor Maxim Emelyanychev. Gordon is also a passionate chamber musician, working with groups such as Mr Mcfall’s Chamber and Hebrides Ensemble, and was second violinist of the Edinburgh Quartet, one of Britain’s foremost chamber ensembles, from 2012-2017. Whilst a member of the quartet, Gordon performed throughout the UK, regularly broadcasting live on BBC Radio and playing on recordings such as the “outstanding” (International Record Review) Delphian recording of MacMillan’s string quartets.
Gordon is also much in demand as a conductor. Following studies in Manchester and Zürich, Gordon has conducted the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and led a critically-acclaimed performance of Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire with Scottish Ballet at the Edinburgh International Festival. Gordon is currently director of the SCO String Academy.
Gordon’s first formal musical education was at the Junior Department of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he won the Conservatoire prizes for violin and piano. He graduated in violin performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with first class honours and participated in masterclasses with members of the Amadeus and Takacs quartets, as well as taking part in an Erasmus exchange to the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He was invited to participate in the International Musicians’ Seminar, Prussia Cove, where he performed in the class of Gerhard Schulz. Gordon was Concertmaster of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and NYOS Camerata, and has been a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra.
Gordon is currently taking part in the Association of British Orchestra’s Find Your Way programme, looking at ways in which orchestral players can be better leaders in advocating the artistic direction of their orchestras.