Derrick Morgan is a young conductor based in Glasgow. Originally from the Scottish Borders, he recently completed a two-year tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, where he worked closely with Music Director Thomas Søndergård and Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Hahn. He was also the inaugural Foundation Conductor for Orpheus Sinfonia’s Foundation Programme in central London. His position at the RSNO was generously supported by the Solti Foundation.

As an assistant, Derrick has had the privilege of working with many of the world’s leading conductors, including the late Sir Andrew Davis, John Wilson, Karina Canellakis, Andrey Boreyko, Joanna Carneiro, and Sir James MacMillan. As a conductor, he has led ensembles such as the RSNO, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Hebrides Ensemble, Red Note Ensemble, The Assembly Project, and the BBC Singers.

During his time at the RSNO, Derrick recorded and performed across Scotland, engaging with audiences in a wide range of venues. In the studio, he collaborated with the orchestra’s new partner, Charanga Music, to create educational materials for schools, and recorded Flower of Scotland (arr. Christopher Gough) for Euro 2024 — a video that attracted thousands of views and multiple broadcasts on Classic FM. On the concert platform, he conducted and presented the RSNO’s popular Viennese Galas, featuring soprano Emma Morwood and tenor Jamie MacDougall. He made his official season debut with the Orchestra in May 2024, stepping in at short notice for an indisposed Stephanie Childress in an all-strings programme. His tenure concluded in June 2025 with a residency as part of the RSNO’s Big Music Weekend at the Pyramid at Anderston, where he led a range of performances including a live screening of Yoyo and the Little Auk with orchestra, a collaboration with folk artist Kris Drever, and a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.

In July 2025, Derrick jumped in with only a few hours’ notice to conduct the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, covering for Jonathan Bloxham. The programme featured Jay Capperauld’s new concerto Rewired, alongside Haydn’s Symphony No. 80 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.

Looking ahead to the 2025/26 season, Derrick returns to the RSNO for several engagements: Matinee Performances in September featuring Principal Double Bass Nikita Naumov in Koussevitzky’s Concerto; a recording project of works by Shostakovich and Amy Beach; and a third appearance on the RSNO’s Viennese Gala Tour. He also travels to Wuppertal, Germany, to assist Patrick Hahn on a full Ring Cycle with the Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal.

Education and audience engagement are central to Derrick’s work. At the RSNO, he leads the orchestra’s partnership with Scotland’s Sistema programme, Big Noise, and conducts for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland’s ENGAGE Programme. He was formerly Assistant Artistic Director of the RPS-nominated Nevis Ensemble, working with communities across Scotland — from care centres and schools to hospitals and prisons — and later supported the training of their Ensemble Fellows.

Derrick is also a committed advocate for contemporary music. He conducted in the opening concert of the 2025 Nordic Music Days festival where he worked with the Scottish Ensemble. This was a particularly special festival as it was the first time the festival had included Scotland as a contributing country. He has conducted numerous new works in both concert and educational settings, and has collaborated with the Assembly Project and Red Note Ensemble to present student compositions and adjudicate competitions at the University of Edinburgh.