Alasdair Kelly
Alasdair is an experienced timpanist and percussionist whose wide-ranging interests highlight the demands made of a modern professional musician.
They formerly performed with the Opera of Bologna, Italy.
Following study at the RCS, he completed a postgraduate at the Royal Academy of Music (where his teachers included Steve Quigley, David Searcy and Eric Sammut) and was appointed Principal Timpani of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Italy) shortly afterwards. He returned to the UK in 2012 and now enjoys a varied career as a timpanist and percussionist, performing as guest principal with many orchestras in Britain and Europe, including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Northern Sinfonia. In addition, he works in commercial music and theatre, recording at Abbey Road and AIR studios, and performing for productions of Les Misèrables and Bat Out of Hell.
Alasdair’s focus in teaching is to enable each student to fulfil their potential in the multifaceted world of timpani and percussion. Developing musical ability is at the heart of this, working in lessons and classes to better understand the musical language of each of the different genres performed. Technical skills are essential for expressing ideas with clarity and conviction and these are best learned in this context.
Beyond his percussion playing, Alasdair is also a busy arranger of music and a keen jazz piano player. This understanding of percussion as part of the wider musical landscape informs both his playing and teaching styles.