Violinist Nicola Benedetti has been named as the next director of the Edinburgh International Festival – becoming both the first woman and the first Scot to take on the prestigious role.
The musician, who started taking violin lessons at the age of four, said she was “deeply honoured” by the appointment.
The Grammy and Brit Award-winning violinist will succeed Fergus Linehan, who has held the post for the last eight years.
Benedetti, 34, who was born in Irvine, now becomes director designate of the festival, before formally becoming its director on 1 October.
She said: “This festival was founded on principles of reconciliation and the ideals of art transcending political and cultural fracture.
“Following in the footsteps of the wonderful achievements of Fergus Linehan and his predecessors, I will uphold these values and greatly look forward to serving this festival, its mission of cultural exchanges and the people of Scotland.”
Keith Skeoch, chair of the festival’s board of trustees, said it was “such a pleasure to welcome Ms Benedetti as both the first woman and the first Scottish director of the Edinburgh International Festival”.
He added: “In many ways she reflects the spirit of this festival; internationally recognised and respected but Scottish to her core, she’s dedicated to advocating world-class music-making and innovating new ways to bring it to audiences.”
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was also born in Irvine, welcomed the appointment.
She said: “The Edinburgh International Festival has a worldwide reputation for its excellent work in bringing world-leading artists together, celebrating the performing arts and promoting Scotland’s rich culture and heritage to an international audience.
“I’m sure that people across the country are looking forward to supporting the festival’s full in-person return after two years and welcoming visitors and artists from around the world to Scotland.”
Nicola's father, Gio Benedetti, retired in 2013 after 50 years in business, selling first-aid kit maker Wallace Cameron, which employed 80 people in Wishaw.
The Italian-born Scot, based in West Kilbride, had an empire that at its height spanned six companies employing 800 people and turning over around £50m.
His first deal saw him sell the dry-cleaning business he started at the age of 18, eight years after arriving in Irvine, to Initial for about £30m in today's prices.
He used the capital to buy a papermaker in Birmingham, which he later sold for £9.5m, and a cling-film maker in Shropshire, sold in 2007 for £21m to a management buy-out led by Benedetti himself, and Wallace Cameron, which he moved from Glasgow to Wishaw.
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