Another String To Her Bow

One of Scotland's most-loved classical musicians leads the Edinburgh International Festival into its next chapter

- PAUL FISHER COCKBURN

FROM child prodigy to one of the most respected violinists in the world, Nicola Benedetti has been breaking down barriers her whole life. And it was that trailblazing spirit that led her to the role of director of the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival.

Scots-born Nicola, previously an EIF "supporting artist", is not just the first woman to lead the festival since 1947, she is the first performing artist to take on the director role following a succession of impresarios, administrators and directors. Not that she lacks experience of running an arts organisation - the Benedetti Foundation, which she established in 2019, has already worked with more than 29,000 participants of all ages, across 103 countries, through in-person workshops and online sessions for young students, teachers and adults. Nevertheless, how did she get the Edinburgh "gig"?

"Well, they called and asked if I would be interested in applying for the role, which I then considered pretty carefully, as it's not exactly a small commitment," she says. "Eventually I decided I would. There was a long process of applying for the post, but it was one that I had obviously thought about enough in advance to then really put everything into it."

She accepts the application process was as much about ensuring she was right for them as it was deciding it was something she could feel comfortable doing.

"Obviously, you're tied to upholding a long and consistent tradition of quality and excellence in Edinburgh every summer, but you're also tasked with bringing something different," she says. "I think every director has had a very different approach and that's expected.