Scottish Ballet writes: “We are delighted to announce that Jean-Claude Picard will be joining the Company as Chief Conductor of the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

He will take up the role in May 2019 ahead of the world premiere of Helen Pickett’s The Crucible at the Edinburgh International Festival this August.

Jean-Claude has formed a close relationship with Scottish Ballet over the years having recently joined the company for Christopher Hampson’s Cinderella in 2018, and following the success of the Stravinsky double bill in 2017.

Alongside Scottish Ballet, Jean-Claude has had a close relationship with Scotland through his role as Associate Conductor at the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

In his native Canada, he is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières and has conducted some of the finest Canadian orchestras including Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Symphony and Nova Scotia.”

“I’m thrilled to join the Scottish Ballet family; a vibrant, complex and highly creative organisation with whom I have experienced some of the finest artistic experiences of my career so far. To now be a part of Scotland’s national dance company means so much to me as I very much look forward to deepening my relationship with this stunning institution and to share many more great projects with my colleagues in the coming years.” – Jean-Claude Picard