BOLD AND BRIGHT RSNO ARTWORK HANGS IN GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL Posted Tue 3 June 2025
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) has installed nine original artworks by Scottish illustrator Katie Smith in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s Clyde Foyer.
The artworks were revealed on Saturday evening (31 May) in the Orchestra’s Glasgow home – the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. In attendance at the unveiling was the illustrator of the works Katie Smith, Music Director Thomas Søndergård, the RSNO musicians featured in the illustrations and their supporters who give generously via the Orchestra’s Chair Patron scheme. The RSNO Chair Patron programme supports the vital and extensive work of the whole organisation and enables individuals, trusts and corporate organisations to build meaningful and impactful relationships with RSNO musicians.
To illustrate the RSNO’s musicians in her signature colourful style, Glasgow-born Katie Smith was given open access to a range of rehearsals and concerts. Using the individual characteristics of the eight selected musicians and Music Director Thomas Søndergård, she aimed to bring a sense of movement into the portraits; echoing the performances on the main stage of the hall the images now hang in. Smith is a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art and has worked with global brands such as BMW, Coca-Cola and Nike.
On working on the illustrations, Katie Smith said: ‘I loved challenging myself with the portraits of this talented group of RSNO musicians. I wanted to mimic the personal style and notes from each musician and bring them to life in colour for each portrait. It was an important part of the process getting to know each musician and I hope that all audiences of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall will be able to look at them and relate to their own experiences of live music.’
The RSNO is proud to support Scottish artists by generating opportunities for the creation of public art. Last year, Anthem (A Portrait of Music), a triptych by Gerard M Burns, was unveiled in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, inspired by the Orchestra’s rehearsals and performance of Britten’s War Requiem during its 2022:23 Concert Season.
The featured musicians are as follows (L-R): Music Director Thomas Søndergård; Assistant Principal Horn Alison Murray (Supported by the Mr and Mrs Pierre and Alison Girard Chair); Principal Cello Pei-Jee Ng (Supported by the Mr Jamie and Kyle Anderson Weir Chair); Principal Flute Katherine Bryan (Supported by the David and Anne Smith Chair); Principal Timpani Paul Philbert (Supported by the Ms Chris Grace Hartness Chair); Principal Trumpet Christopher Hart (Supported by the Ms Chris Grace Hartness Chair); Associate Leader Lena Zeliszewska; Principal Trombone Dávur Juul Magnussen; and Assistant Principal Double Bass Michael Rae (Supported by the James Wood Bequest Fund Chair).