Chair: David Scott
Orchestra Manager: Emma Veitch
Treasurer: Gerard Delaney
Secretary: Ernest Beattie
Librarian: Vaughan Townhill
Social Media: Murdo Homewood
Website Maintainer: Kaye Brewster
Brass Rep: Elliot Longworth
Lower Strings Rep: John Wilkinson
A bit more about us..
David Scott (Violin) – Chair
I joined the second violin section of the wonderfully friendly, fun and inspiring ESO in (I think!) 1999. I served on the Committee for a spell in the noughties, and became Chair in September 2024. Over the years, I have seen how the Orchestra retains a slowly morphing but solid core of loyal members intermingled with many other players of varying degrees of membership longevity. It is always great to see and welcome new faces, some of whom may go on to stay for many years, others may just want an Orchestra to join for the short time they are in Edinburgh. All are equally welcome. Do come and join us!
Emma Veitch (Cello) – Orchestra Manager
I’ve been a member of the ESO since 2004, joined the committee in 2014 and have been our Orchestra Manager since 2016. My role includes organising and setting the agenda for committee meetings; liaising with our conductor and soloists; writing newsletters for the orchestra; organising our socials; booking our rehearsal and concert venues; designing our posters; organising percussion players etc. I love being part of this warm, vibrant orchestra and am looking forward to many more years of making music together.
Gerard Delaney (Cello) – Treasurer
I first played with the ESO in 2015, and have been leading our cello section since 2016. I joined the committee in 2023 as treasurer where I now look after the orchestra’s accounts. This involves handling our incoming and outgoing money, sending and paying invoices, managing member subscriptions, maintaining our financial log book, and preparing statements for our annual review. I greatly enjoy playing with the ESO, and am grateful that my role allows me to give back to the orchestra.
Ernest Beattie – Secretary
I am a non-playing member of the orchestra. My wife, Sheila, plays in the first violins. Having helped selling programmes and tickets, I was somehow persuaded to take on the role of secretary way back in the late 1990s. My role includes liaising with the members of the orchestra, maintaining the distribution list, producing the tickets, preparing and distributing the minutes for the AGM and co-ordinating the “front of house” activities at the concerts.
Vaughan Townhill (Clarinet) – Librarian
I have been 1st Clarinet for too long and also have been Chairman of the orchestra, soloist with the orchestra and Librarian for a good long time too and occasional conductor of rehearsals when Gerry has been away.
Murdo Homewood (Cello) – Social Media
I joined the ESO cello section in 2021. I still feel immensely lucky to have found space in an orchestra during the pandemic, and that the orchestra that took me in was ESO, full as it is of such wonderful musicians, who also happen to be lovely people. In my capacity on the committee I take care of the orchestra’s social media – part of the all important job of making sure people know about our concert, and how enticing they are! – and generally try to make myself useful where I can. I’m very much looking forward to seeing everyone again for another year of fabulous music!
Kaye Brewster (Violin) – Website Maintainer
I’ve been a second violiner since joining the orchestra about 25 years ago. I look after the website and offer occasional IT advice.
Elliot Longworth (Trumpet) – Brass Rep
I have played trumpet in ESO since 1995 when I was a student in Edinburgh. I organise the players in the brass section for the concerts (not horns – Marian Kirton does this) and I also help to answer queries sent to the ESO Enquiries e-mail address. I also collate the programmes for the concerts. ESO is a fun and friendly orchestra to be part of which is why I have stayed part of it for so long.