The life of our trailblazing founder, Sir Alexander Gibson, is celebrated in a new podcast.
In their footsteps: Carnegie Pioneers, by Carnegie Education Fund (CEF), explores the life of the conductor extraordinaire from humble origins to the world stage. 2026 marks the centenary of the birth of Sir Alex.
The series, released to mark CEF’s 125th anniversary, follows the lives of its iconic grantees, those who received funding to attend higher education and went on to make an enduring mark on the world.
A renowned musician, conductor and impresario, Sir Alex was also the first Scottish Principal Conductor and Music Director of the then Scottish National Orchestra (now Royal Scottish National Orchestra) and played a major part in transforming perceptions of the Scottish scene from provincial to world renowned.
Each episode is presented by a current grantee, with this most recent one fronted by Ibrahim Dikko, a musician and student at the University of the West of Scotland, examining Gibson’s legacy across the Scottish classical music scene.
On the way he meets opera singer Karen Cargill, conductor Sir Donald Runnicles, Gibson’s son Philip, our General Director Alex Reedijk and RSNO Chief Executive Alistair Mackie – and attends his first ever opera.
Alex Reedijk said: ‘Scottish Opera is pleased and proud that our founder and proud Scotsman, Sir Alexander Gibson, is recognised by the Carnegie Pioneers podcast, and we hope his story helps inspire the next generation of musicians.
‘It is a fascinating listen that introduces his legacy to a wider audience, demonstrating just how crucial early career support is for artists. The podcast perfectly rounds off a year of centenary celebrations, during which we have honoured his life and devotion to the arts—most notably with a reception at the Scottish Parliament, the dedicated world premiere of our new opera, The Great Wave, and a commemorative plaque and community Pop-up Opera performances in his hometown of Motherwell.’
The episode is now available to download from Apple Podcasts and Podbean.