George Hillier is a violist who recently graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

George enjoys playing a wide-ranging scope of music and has played with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Opera. This summer George joined the Scottish Ensemble on a Concerts for a Summer’s Night tour around Scotland as one of their Young Artists for the 2023/24 season.

While studying at conservatoire, he completed a professional project with Big Noise, Sistema Scotland where he assisted and led classes of young string musicians. He is now a cover support musician.

He has supported workshops with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra on their Craigmillar Residency and worked with youth orchestras in various capacities such as the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland.

George is an advocate for young people in classical music and is a member of the joint RSNO and SCO Youth Assembly where he has taken part in discussions and helped in the planning of events for young people to experience classical music.

The training George has received through the foundation has helped him in his teaching practice and has an active violin & viola studio as well as teaching at music schools in Glasgow, including being a cover tutor for the RCS Junior centres. He is delighted to return as an Ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation where he has had the chance to receive world class training and gain more experience working with young musicians.

He is looking forward to starting a new position as a Graduate Music Assistant at Wells Cathedral School in September.