Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s
Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer
extends contract until August 2028
Gregory Batsleer (Photo: Christopher Bowen)
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is delighted to announce that it has extended the contract of its Chorus Director, Gregory Batsleer, until August 2028.
Since Gregory joined the SCO in late 2009, his creativity and vision have transformed the Chorus. During his tenure the Chorus has gone from strength to strength, cementing its reputation for consistency, expressiveness and excellence.
In recent years, Gregory has also overseen the expansion of the SCO’s Young Singers’ Programme and has led the Chorus through an ever-expanding range of activity, including performing several newly-commissioned works, a second appearance at the BBC Proms in 2023, regular radio broadcasts, and annual appearances at Edinburgh International Festival as part of Maxim Emelyanychev’s critically-acclaimed Mozart opera series.
Gregory Batsleer, Chorus Director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra says:
“I am over-the-moon to be extending my relationship with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra as Chorus Director. Over the years, it has been a joy to see the SCO Chorus become part of the very fabric of this great organisation – artistically, emotionally, and culturally. The choir’s journey has been one of deep collaboration and creative ambition, and I am thrilled to continue shaping its future.”
Watch Greg discuss his role with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra here.
Gavin Reid, Chief Executive of Scottish Chamber Orchestra says:
‘We’re delighted to be marking the continuing strength of our relationship with Gregory Batsleer with a contract extension that will take his role almost to its 20th anniversary! Since 2009, Gregory has been instrumental in the development of the SCO Chorus and under his direction they have established an unparalleled reputation that has seen them give world-class performances both in Scotland and across the UK. We are so looking forward to seeing what the future holds for the Chorus with Gregory at the helm.”
Gregory Batsleer conducts SCO and SCO Chorus in Sir James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words (Photo: Christopher Bowen)
Later this week, Gregory joins the SCO’s Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev for a programme stretching across two centuries of exhilarating choral music – with performances of Vivaldi’s and Poulenc’s Glorias (9 – 10 October). Further highlights across the 2025-26 Season include: Berlioz’s visionary masterpiece, L’Enfance du Christ, with a starry line-up of soloists including Roderick Williams and Andrew Staples (27 – 28 November); the world premiere of Jay Capperauld’s new seasonal choral work, The Winter’s Brightening with the SCO Chorus (21 – 22 December; Capperauld’s new choral work The Language of Eden, whichtakes a libretto by Niall Campbell and reimagines the birth of language itself (26 – 27 March); and a concert presenting two choral splendours – Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Paukenmesse (30 April – 1 May).
Gregory’s Chair is kindly supported by Anne McFarlane