Richard Chester Fund

Fund Update:

Thanks to the exceptional generosity people like you, the fund has raised £28,000.

The first project that the fund will support is a commission from the exceptional Swedish composer, Andrea Tarrodi. NYOS will perform the work, alongside guest artists the Amatis Trio, in July 2024. Alongside offering the invaluable musical experience of presenting the world premiere of a work, the composition, with its inventive use of the stage and body movement, will push NYOS members to explore new approaches to orchestral playing, and is a fitting tribute to Richard’s dynamic and progressive leadership.

About The Richard Chester Creativity Fund

Richard Chester MBE was the visionary Director of NYOS from 1987 to 2007. His passion and influence reached generations of young Scottish musicians as he grew NYOS from its early foundations to an internationally recognised training ground for aspiring instrumentalists.

Prior to this, Richard had a long and distinguished career, latterly as principal flautist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, performing in many chamber groups and as a soloist at home and abroad.

The Richard Chester Creativity Fund honours Richard’s exceptional leadership and lifelong dedication to music by raising funds for NYOS in his memory. The aim of the Richard Chester Creativity Fund is to create inspirational, world-class opportunities for aspiring young musicians, based on the principles of opportunity and excellence on which NYOS was founded.

As NYOS evolves to fulfil the needs of a new generation of musicians, the Richard Chester Creativity Fund will support the type of prestigious and inclusive opportunities with which Richard was synonymous, such as providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the 100-strong National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, creating access to our programmes for young people nationally, or providing a platform for a promising young conductor.

Supported by the Chester family, the Richard Chester Creativity Fund will continue Richard’s legacy and support NYOS’s ambitious plans to nurture, celebrate and widen access to outstanding youth orchestras, inspiring young people to realise their potential.

You can support the Richard Chester Creativity Fund today by donating:

Posting a cheque to the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland at Office 240, The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, Glasgow, G15HZ

Like all charities, NYOS has faced exceptional challenges in recent years. Every pound raised will help to ensure that NYOS remains viable, dynamic, and exciting and can nurture Scotland’s young musicians for decades to come.

This page will be updated regularly with the latest news about the fund. You can also sign up to receive our newsletters so that you can be the first to hear about fundraising and support opportunities. 

> Sign Up for Newsletters