ACO Committee

CHAIR

Since graduating from the University of Aberdeen, Aden has been an active member of the local music scene. He joined ACO in 2012 and became the Aberdeen City Orchestra chair in 2016. Alongside upper strings teaching at St Margaret's School for Girls, Kemnay Academy, and the Wee String School, Aberdeen, Aden performs on both violin and piano across Scotland and is a founding member of the Aurora Quartet. He has also been Musical Director for many shows, including the Scottish premiere of the musical Side Show and regularly accompanies for exams and festivals. After a long day, Aden enjoys spending time with his dog, Chester!

SECRETARY

Bio coming soon.

TREASURER

Vanessa is a long-standing member of the orchestra, having played both violin and viola at various times. Her day job is Finance Manager for NHS Grampian, she’s a keen Dons fan and also plays chamber music in her spare time.

ORCHESTRA MANAGER

Sam grew up in Aberdeen where he studied French horn with Kevin Cormack, before going on to study chemical engineering at the University of Aberdeen. A keen member of the Aberdeen music community, he conducts the University of Aberdeen Concert Band and Chamber Choir, and Aberdeen Vocal Ensemble. Outside of engineering and music, Sam is fond of hillwalking, photography, sound engineering, and the occasional whisky.

VENUE MANAGER

Shona is a proud Shetlander who moved to Aberdeenshire with her family 17 years ago. Shona first played the cello before falling in love with the double bass. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her cockapoo, Enzo, travelling, cooking, playing badminton and attending fitness classes with friends.

LIBRARIAN

Emma grew up in Northern Ireland and moved to Aberdeen in 2019 to pursue a degree in music at the University of Aberdeen. Prior to this, she studied music viola under Heather Marsden and played for many of the larger youth orchestras around Northern Ireland, including the City of Belfast and Ulster Youth Orchestras. Having completed her degree, Emma now enjoys teaching upper strings with Big Noise Torry and the Wee String School.

PUBLICITY MANAGER

After receiving a Diploma in Violin from ABRSM whilst still at school, Alexandria has gone on to be the leader of many orchestras including the Grampian Youth Orchestra and the Scottish Opera Connect Orchestra, where she performed the premier of Anamchara by renowned composer Pippa Murphy. Now a Chartered Accountant, Alexandria enjoys making time for music, performing with ACO and her wedding quartet, Aurora Quartet!

ORDINARY MEMBER
ASSISTANT TREASURER

Joe grew up in Aberdeen and first developed a love for music by playing the French Horn in local school and council-run bands and orchestras. Following a number of years living in Edinburgh and Hull, where he continued playing with a variety of musical groups, Joe was delighted to move back to Aberdeen in 2017 and join ACO. 2020 is his first year on the ACO committee and he is excited to get more involved with the Orchestra. Away from music, Joe works as a Process Engineer, enjoys trips to the cinema and is a fan of Aberdeen Football Club.

ORDINARY MEMBER

Having played horn since she was 11, Natalie has played in many local orchestras and bands as well as others further afield, such as the Scottish Opera Connect Orchestra based in Glasgow. She enjoys playing for pantomimes and theatre productions as well as classical orchestras and ensembles. She has been a member of ACO since 2011 and joined the committee in 2018. When not playing music, Natalie works in Aberdeenshire Council’s Road Service as a Senior Engineer. In her spare time she works with a health and nutrition company, and enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 kids and Cavapoo called Kerwin.

ORDINARY MEMBER

After a childhood full of music, Julian followed his other passion (Lego !) and pursued a career in engineering. The energy industry brought him to Aberdeen, and he joined ACO in 2015; he also plays in a number of other ensembles, including Aberdeen Sinfonietta and the Granite Ensemble. Away from work and music, he enjoys spending time in the outdoors, with his wife, three children and their slightly crazy border-collie called Ziggy.