SNJO Board Members

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra currently has a Board consisting of 10 members who provide guidance, leadership, and support to the orchestra and their staff.

The position is voluntary and Board members are elected for a period initially of 3 years but may be re-elected for further terms if wished. The Board encourages this policy of rotation to encourage new members, fresh ideas and to ensure stability and continuity.

We welcome applications at any time for new Board members who are interested in the work and future of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. If appointed, they will be given personal guide to the SNJO’s work and an induction pack of information. Please contact us for more information.

Born in Douglas Lanarkshire, educated Glasgow University. Spent three years teaching mathematics then joined Royal Navy for three years then the Army for 21 years, always in education. Took early retirement from Army to take up role as Secretary Heriot-Watt University. There, Peter played a major role in the University’s international development, particularly with Norway ( awarded Norwegian Order of Merit – Knight Class ) and Dubai. He also managed the University’s Director of Music. Retired from University end December 2010.

David is a Chartered Accountant and runs a practice based in the south side of Glasgow providing accountancy, taxation and business advisory services to companies and other owner managed businesses as well as charitable bodies. His career has seen him work within both large and small professional offices and serve on Institute Committees. He is an enthusiastic ‘though amateur jazz musician with a keen interest in supporting musical talent within Scotland and has been involved with various charities in a trustee capacity over the past 20 years.

Studied at Berklee, USA, supported by Sean Connery; recorded over thirty solo albums; toured 50+ countries; composed over 300 works; established SNJO, TSYJO, RCS Jazz Course, Spartacus Records; collaborated with poet laureates and visual artists; toured with groups led by Gary Burton, Trilok Gurtu & Arild Andersen; holds a Professorship; three Doctorates; awards from the BBC, British, UK Parliament, Scottish Jazz; and an OBE for services to jazz and education from Queen Elizabeth II. 

Campbell Normand is a partner in an international law firm, DAC Beachcroft Scotland, and is based in Edinburgh.  He is a solicitor advocate and has been qualified since 1986, specialising in civil litigation.  He is a council member of the WS Society, and a member of the Scottish Arts Club. He has had a lifelong interest in music, and in performing and listening to jazz piano in particular.

Prof. Simon Best, OBE, FRSE Lifelong promoter of innovation in Music, Biotechnology and Business. Avant-Garde composer who helped launch the careers of the Human League, Gang of 4 and Delta 5. Past Chair of Hebrides Ensemble and EIF Trustee. Built a new industry around Dolly the Sheep and brought the essential protein Plasminogen to market for patients with a genetic deficit. Past Chair of UK Bioindustry Association and Vice-Chair of the US Biotechnology Industry Organisation.  

Currently General Manager of the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Karl was appointed in 2002 and has a musical remit to expand and deliver a diverse range of quality concerts and connecting the public with music. After graduating with a degree in ancient history and classical archaeology, Karl worked for The Guardian in Manchester but was keen to work in music and volunteered to write reviews for music magazines. Eventually in the 1990’s, he took a job working for Assembly Direct, helped to set up the Lothian Jazz School, established jazz touring networks across Scotland, and became touring production manager for artists including Dave Brubeck, Jan Garbarek, Maceo Parker, Courtney Pine, and a host of other artists.

From there his career incorporated all sorts of music related work – running his own agency and working for the Arts Council – until his present appointment at the Usher Hall where his ambition has been to successfully embrace modernisation with an appreciation of the building’s iconic history.

Karl joined the Board of the SNJO in 2015 having heard them at the Usher Hall as part of the Edinburgh International Festival and with Kurt Elling, and recognizing them as a truly world class ensemble. He felt that this is an exciting time to be involved and his vast experience brings much to the table and his firm belief that ambition and quality should be at the forefront of our thinking.

Linda Cameron, born 1966, Honours Graduate in Philosophy from The University of Glasgow.  A humanitarian with a passion for performance Linda counts sharing the spotlight with Kim Crisswell, Lindsay Duncan and Graham Norton in an Edinburgh Festival production of ‘Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens’ among her performing highlights.  A lover of jazz she has learned from and collaborated with Stephen Duffy.  When not singing, can often be found playing golf by the sea.

Stephen Duffy, 1971,  is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and the University of Glasgow. An acclaimed jazz vocalist, pianist, arranger and voice coach, he presented BBC Radio’s “Jazz House” program for 11 years, winning a Sony Radio Academy Award Nomination and 3 Scottish Jazz Awards . He has held senior communications roles with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the RCS and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. 

Heather Macintosh graduated with a BA in Applied Music from Strathclyde University in 2011. She was born in Glasgow in 1989 the first of three sisters and started playing piano at the age of 9, moving on to saxophone at 13. Whilst studying at University, Heather began to volunteer with Glasgow International Jazz Festival – an association, which continues today. She has also worked as a freelance-booking agent for several of Scotland’s leading Jazz musicians and is the Manager of busy function band ‘Funk Nation’.

Heather formerly held the baritone sax chair with the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland. She works as a freelance musician, teaching woodwind & piano privately, and is currently studying for her teaching qualification. Heather is also a current Board Member of Jazz from Scotland.

Katherine Campbell, b. 1972, BA (Hons), MSc, PhD, PGCE, studied cello and piano at the RSAMD before undertaking a PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of Edinburgh. A former Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, her most recent book, co-authored with Dr Emily Lyle, is “Robert Burns and the Discovery and Re-Creation of Scottish Song” (Musica Scotica, 2020). Although a specialist in Scottish traditional music, she also has a keen interest in jazz. 
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