Who are we?
In the year 1878 two young amateur musicians, Arthur Christie and Robert Shirar advertised in 'The Scotsman' for players interested in forming an orchestra. The response being satisfactory, Christie, who was a member of St Andrew's Church in George Street, applied for permission to use the church hall for practices. His request was met, a conductor was appointed and the orchestra was named after the church.
The St Andrew Amateur Orchestral Society was founded in 1879 and since its foundation, the orchestra has met regularly and has given concerts every year since then.
This photograph is from the Edinburgh Evening News, circa 1955.
The St Andrew Amateur Orchestral Society was founded in 1879 and since its foundation, the orchestra has met regularly and has given concerts every year since then.
This photograph is from the Edinburgh Evening News, circa 1955.
Our conductor
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Michael Graham is a conductor and composer based in Edinburgh. Since completing degrees in music at the University of Edinburgh Michael has continued to study under some of the UK’s leading conducting teachers, including Sian Edwards, and Martyn Brabbins. In February 2020, he took conducting lessons with Andris Veismanis at the Latvian Academy of Music in Riga. In 2022 he studied technique and orchestral repertoire with Robert Houlihan and Geoffrey Spratt in Ireland, and on the Girton College Conducting Course, Cambridge with Denise Ham, John Longstaff, and Dominic Greer. Michael has also completed an Apprentice Conductor scheme through the Association of British Choral Directors, receiving mentorship from Alan Tavener and placement the Strathclyde University Chamber Choir, continuing as their Associate Conductor. Michael was delighted to receive the Wagner Society of Scotland’s Bayreuth Scholarship in 2019 which funded a study tour of Germany.
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Enjoying a broad portfolio career, Michael currently conducts the Falkirk Tryst Orchestra, Edinburgh Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra, and Edinburgh Recorder Ensemble. He previously worked with the Bathgate Concert Orchestra from 2015-16 and again from, 2018-22. In 2020, Michael was delighted to be asked to become the conductor of Edinburgh’s world-notorious Really Terrible Orchestra and continues this relationship for their Edinburgh Fringe concert in August 2023. 2023-24 will also see Michael’s third year as conductor of the British Fretted Orchestra, the national mandolin-guitar ensemble. Over the next year, Michael will make additional appearances as a guest conductor with ensembles in Cambridge, Coventry, Guildford, Leicester, Norwich, Warwick, and Wessex. He was invited to be the Composer in Residence for the October Recorder Festival to be held at Bury St Edmunds in Autumn 2023.
Michael also serves as Director of Music at St Mark’s Episcopal Church, Portobello, and regularly writes as a contributor for several magazine and journals.
Michael also serves as Director of Music at St Mark’s Episcopal Church, Portobello, and regularly writes as a contributor for several magazine and journals.
