FROM child prodigy to one of the most respected violinists in the world, Nicola Benedetti has been breaking down barriers her whole life. And it was that trailblazing spirit that led her to the role of director of the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival.
Scots-born Nicola, previously an EIF "supporting artist", is not just the first woman to lead the festival since 1947, she is the first performing artist to take on the director role following a succession of impresarios, administrators and directors. Not that she lacks experience of running an arts organisation - the Benedetti Foundation, which she established in 2019, has already worked with more than 29,000 participants of all ages, across 103 countries, through in-person workshops and online sessions for young students, teachers and adults. Nevertheless, how did she get the Edinburgh "gig"?
"Well, they called and asked if I would be interested in applying for the role, which I then considered pretty carefully, as it's not exactly a small commitment," she says. "Eventually I decided I would. There was a long process of applying for the post, but it was one that I had obviously thought about enough in advance to then really put everything into it."
She accepts the application process was as much about ensuring she was right for them as it was deciding it was something she could feel comfortable doing.
"Obviously, you're tied to upholding a long and consistent tradition of quality and excellence in Edinburgh every summer, but you're also tasked with bringing something different," she says. "I think every director has had a very different approach and that's expected.
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The Bliss Of A Bothy
After a strenuous walk, a mountain shelter can offer all you need
The Long Way Round
When you can only just see the stepping stones under a river in spate, it's time to re-think the route, as two Highland adventurers found out
The New Oyster Cult
A community is helping to restore the once rich biodiversity of Loch Craignish, one species at a time
A Poet's Sanctuary
Hidden on a hilltop, writer Dominic Cooper is inspired by the wild, stormy winters of the Ardnamurchan peninsula
A Rural Housing Crisis
Across Scotland, locals are being priced out and crowded out - but communities are now working hard to address the issue
A Historic Centre
Glasgow's Mercat Cross may not be as old as it appears but it's still seen many changes, along with an ebb and flow in prosperity
A Bird With A Brain
Jim's encounters with the raven in several northern countries have only increased his respect for its intellect and ingenuity
The Warrior King
On the 750th anniversary of his birth, Robert The Bruce's legacy as cultural keystone and historical enigma continues to fascinate
All Going Swimmingly
From Tutti Frutti to Shetland, Monarch Of The Glen to Granite Harbour, Dawn Steele's heart will always be in Scotland - and the sea
Following The Coos
The latest charity art trail aims to a-moos-e and delight visitors to Perth and Kinross this summer