Artistic Team About Us

Derrick Morgan is Assistant Conductor of the RSNO; his two-year tenure commencing in 2023.

Derrick Morgan is a young Glasgow-based conductor. Born in the Scottish Borders, he was recently appointed Assistant Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, where he will work closely with Music Director Thomas Søndergård. He also served as the Assistant Artistic Director of the RPS award-nominated Nevis Ensemble alongside Holly Mathieson and John Hargreaves.

Derrick is a musician who strives actively to engage with the community, collaborating with ensembles and communities across Scotland. His work at the Nevis Ensemble involved giving concerts in schools, care homes, prisons and hospitals, travelling to some of Scotland’s most isolated communities. In 2019, Derrick led a tour of ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ to several venues across Dumfries and Galloway with Blackbird Opera.

Supporting and promoting contemporary music is another significant aspect of Derrick’s career. He has conducted numerous new works in both public and educational contexts. He has collaborated with the Assembly Project and Red Note Ensemble, presenting student works and adjudicating composition competitions at the University of Edinburgh. His interest in contemporary music led him to give the Scottish Premiere of Jonathan Dove’s ‘Mansfield Park’ with Edinburgh Studio Opera in 2016.

Derrick studied Musicology at the University of Edinburgh and conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he received prizes for his achievements in conducting. He studied conducting under the guidance of Martyn Brabbins and Garry Walker, while benefiting from the expertise of guest tutors including Mark Wigglesworth, Kevin John Edusei, Ilan Volkov and James Lowe. In 2017, he became the youngest participant of the Orkney Conductors’ Course as part of the St Magnus International Festival. During this course, Derrick studied with the late Alexander Vedernikov, Charles Peebles and Sofi Jeannin, directing the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, BBC Singers and the Assembly Project.

The RSNO Assistant Conductorship is a two-year post and benefits from the support of the Solti Foundation.