Jenny Jamison: Building A New Purpose

With 15 years' experience in the music sector, in August 2024 Jenny took up the position of Chief Executive & Creative Director for the National Centre for Music – a new organisation being developed on the site of the old Royal High School building at the foot of Edinburgh’s Calton Hill. Over the next 2 years, she will build the vision, programming, partnerships and team that will ensure this iconic heritage destination becomes a place where Scottish musical history is made.

Prior to this role, from 2011 – 2018 she worked her way from Administrator to Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble, a pioneering string orchestra based in Glasgow, and then held the CEO position for six years. She led the organisation through a major programming and fundraising campaign to support its 50th anniversary, as well as tours in the USA, Europe and Asia. In previous roles, she produced a number of flagship cross-artform collaborations – from site specific work in abandoned buildings to choreographed collaborations with international contemporary dance and theatre companies.

Jenny has also supported the vision development for the Benedetti Foundation and New Opera in Scotland Events, and held sector development roles as Vice Chair and Interim Chair for the Association of British Orchestras. She was fortunate to receive a Fellowship with the International Society of Performing Arts from 2017 – 2020, supported by Creative Scotland, and to have created other close international connections by co-founding a Creative Europe funded project, The Bridge network, which brought together classical freelance ensembles from across the continent.

A mum to two young children, and a passionate amateur musician in the slivers of free time that occasionally pop up, leading the National Centre for Music in its foundational phase is a job-in-a-lifetime.