SCOTLAND'S national orchestra has recruited the expertise of a Grammy-winning music recording executive.

Producer Andrew Cornall, vice-president of EMI Classics, is to join the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s board of directors, and he believes the orchestra should be a big name on the UK and international stage.

Mr Cornall has worked in the music industry for more than 30 years, and believes the RSNO has to embrace its local, national and international reputation through touring and recordings.

He will also push for more contemporary works to be played by the orchestra, as he did as executive director of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO), where he revamped its programming and instigated the commissioning of a range of new works.

Mr Cornall, currently EMI Classic’s vice-president of artists and repertoire, said the RSNO needs to be visible on the international stage – playing concerts such as last week’s well received performance in Leipzig, Germany.

“There is always going to be a debate, and this is true of orchestras in Europe too, about what is the right profile for an orchestra, and how to project that on to the outside world,” he said.

“These debates always need to be had again: how to balance the local, national and international profiles. My personal view is that you have to cover all these bases, and it is absolutely vital that you do.

“You have to pay very close attention to your local audeinces, and your community, with programmes that bring in those audiences, but the RSNO is in a very particular position because it is representing Scotland, so it is important it has a standing in the UK and has an international standing as well, and that can be done through touring and recording.”

Mr Cornall joined EMI Classics from the RLPO earlier this year.

Previously, he had been senior executive producer with Decca Music Group since 1995 and now joins a board headed by RSNO chairman and former principal of St Andrews University, Dr Brian Lang.