Further Trustees:

Catherine Frew: Music Teacher, City of Edinburgh Music School

Malcolm Garden: Higher Education Co-ordinator and Classics Teacher, Stewart’s Melville College

May Halyburton: Double Bassist, Music Educator and Author

Finlay Hetherington: Trumpeter and Music Educator

Kathryn Jourdan: Freelance Viola player Scottish Chamber Orchestra and teacher of academic and chamber music at St Mary’s Music School

Rosie Kenneally: Learning and Engagement Officer, RSNO

Fiona McLean-Williamson: Brass Instructor, City of Edinburgh

Ken Taylor: Headteacher, St Mary’s Music School

General Manager: Laura Gardiner

Laura’s lifelong dedication to music began at just three years old, when she first picked up the violin. Guided by the commitment and inspiration of her first teacher, Brenda Smith, Laura has built her career around nurturing the next generation of musicians.

Laura studied music at the University of Leeds, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music. She then trained as a primary teacher, where she witnessed first-hand the inconsistency in music education provision across schools and the limited access many children have to instrumental tuition.

Since 2007, Laura has taught violin and viola privately and in schools across Lincolnshire. After stepping away from full-time primary classroom teaching in 2012, she founded the Oasby Music Group, a string programme that introduces young musicians to the joy of ensemble playing from the moment they begin to learn. Her groups have toured Europe, collaborated with internationally acclaimed musicians such as Nicola Benedetti, Wynton Marsalis, Leonard Elschenbroich and Tasmin Little, won several awards, and many students have progressed to study music at conservatoire and university.

A passionate advocate for accessible high-quality music education, Laura was a founding member of The Benedetti Foundation team, initially as Education Director before becoming its first Foundation Director from April 2020 to November 2024. During this time, she played a pivotal role in developing and shaping the Foundation’s programmes of activity, from the flagship mass Benedetti Sessions to the acclaimed Ambassador Programme, while collaborating closely with Nicola Benedetti, the Foundation’s Founder and Artistic Director, to set its strategic vision and manage its day-to-day operations.

Prior to her work with The Benedetti Foundation, Laura spent 15 years with the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain in various support roles.

Laura is also the Head of Conferences and Training for the Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG) in Scotland and contributes her expertise as a member of the Advisory Committee for Programming and Community Engagement for the Dunard Centre.

Laura is delighted to be taking on the role of General Manager of Edinburgh Youth Orchestra from September 2025 and is looking forward to working with the young musicians, tutors, admin team and Board of Directors to take the organisation into its next phase, carrying on the brilliant work of outgoing General Manager, Wendy Elliott.