Ruari Donaldson

Ruari studied at both the Junior and Senior departments of the then Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama through the late eighties and early nineties with Eric Hendry, Martin Gibson and Pamella Dow. After graduating with a BA in Musical Studies he continued at the RSAMD with a post graduate year. He went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with David Corkhill, Michael Skinner and James Holland, gaining an Advanced Certificate in Orchestral Studies.

After his time in London, Ruari returned to Glasgow to pick up his career as a freelance musician which had begun whilst he was studying at the RSAMD. During this time, he worked regularly with all the Scottish orchestras, particularly with Scottish Opera and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

In 1998 Ruari was appointed Principal Timpanist with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, where he continues to play today. He has also been a guest timpani player with other orchestras including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Opera North, the Northern Sinfonia and the Halle.

Ruari has always coupled his playing career with work in education. In addition to his teaching at the Junior Conservatoire, a role he has fulfilled for over twenty-five years, he is Head of Percussion with Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and coaches from time to time with the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. Ruari is also a visiting percussion teacher at Hutcheson’s Grammar School.