Bernard Docherty

Bernard Docherty is a Violin Lecturer and part-time educator with a career spanning five decades. He currently serves as Head of Strings at The High School of Glasgow (since 2017) and holds part-time roles as a lecturer, examiner, and strings coach at the Junior/Senior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) and Douglas Academy's Specialist Music School. His expertise includes orchestral leadership, chamber music coaching, and audition preparation for professional orchestras. Docherty has led major orchestras such as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (25 years as Co-Leader), Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, among others.

Education:

• Graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), where he was a prizewinning violinist.

Research & Teaching Focus: Bernard specializes in music pedagogy, particularly in technical and musical development of young musicians. His work emphasizes orchestral excerpt coaching, audition strategies, and ensemble performance techniques. He has pioneered educational programs through groups like the string quartet 'Quartz' with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the light music trio 'Csardas'.

Advising & Contributions:

• Extensive experience as a strings adjudicator at music festivals and competitions.
• Conducting roles with Glasgow Schools Orchestra, Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, Ulster Youth Orchestra, and National Youth Orchestras of Scotland.
• Continues to balance teaching with guest leadership engagements internationally.

Labs/Teams: Associated with the innovative 'Quartz' quartet (Scottish Chamber Orchestra's educational program) and the light music trio 'Csardas', alongside youth orchestras and festival adjudication panels.