Donald Grant
Violin
Donald Grant is a violinist, fiddle player, collaborator and composer based in Glasgow, Scotland. At an early age he was immersed in the folk tradition of the Highlands of Scotland, learning Gaelic songs from his father who was a singer and teacher. He has since followed a path that defies one musical genre, travelling the globe collaborating with many artists and organisations.
He founded the Elias String Quartet in 1998. As one of Europe’s leading Chamber ensembles they have toured extensively, regularly playing in the great concert halls including Carnegie Hall (New York), Recital Centre (Melbourne), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Musikverein (Vienna), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Konserthaus (Berlin), Konserthuset (Stockholm), Wigmore Hall (London), Southbank Centre (London) and in over 30 of the American States. They were BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists, Boletti-Buitoni Trust Award Winners and BBC Music Magazine’s Newcomer of the Year. They also have an extensive and acclaimed recording catalogue including the Complete Quartets of Beethoven for the Wigmore Hall’s “Live” label, Schumann Quartets, Britten Quartets, and Mendelssohn Quartets. They have performed numerous cycles of the Beethoven Quartets and will bring them again to the Wigmore Hall for their 2025/26 Season.
A passionate advocate for the music of his native home, Donald is focused on developing his voice within the tradition. Recent performances include Celtic Connections Festival, Wigmore Hall, Queen’s Hall, King’s Place, Southwell Festival and the Weesp Festival. He writes and arranges music for himself and for others and can be heard on his solo album “The Way Home”.
In the 2024/2025 season, Donald was commissioned to write “The Night Overtook Us” - new music written for himself, his band and orchestra. He has directed and performed it with The Aurora Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Scottish Ensemble. Additionally, he was commissioned to compose new music for Manchester Collective and the Fergus McCreadie Trio. Further commissions include Elena Urioste and Tom Poster, and Ensemble Perpetual.
Donald has written and performed string arrangements for Kate Rusby on multiple albums. He has also collaborated with Leif Vollebekk, The Secret North, Su-a Lee, Mike Vass, Catriona McKay, Fergus McCreadie, Cahalen Morrison and Siobhan Miller.
He was Artistic Director and leader for Scottish Ensemble’s show “In Sync” for multiple tours between 2022 and 2025. These included performances at King’s Place, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Aberdeen Music Hall and culminated in two sold out performances in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre.
Donald regularly plays with Manchester Collective and has led The Grit Orchestra since 2015.
Donald is Artistic Director of Chamber Studio and Visiting Professor of Chamber Music at the RNCM.