Scottish conductor Alistair Digges started his musical studies as a horn player before going on to enjoy a busy international career as an operatic tenor and concert soloist. He is a scholar and graduate of both the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal College of Music International Opera School and is mentored by renowned conductor David Parry.

As Musical Director of Opera Bohemia, Scotland’s professional touring company, Alistair has conducted productions of Eugene Onegin, Gianni Schicchi, La traviata, Les pêcheurs de perles, Falstaff, The Merry Widow, The Marriage of Figaro and Madama Butterfly (including at the Perth Festival). He made his English conducting debut at West Green House Opera in 2016 with Gounod’s La Colombe. He made his Dutch debut in 2021 conducting La traviata for Nederlandse Reisopera in a new production that toured the Netherlands extensively throughout 2021 and 2022, including performances at The Royal Theatre Carré in Amsterdam. For Nederlandse Reisopera he has also held assistant conductor and chorus master positions, working on productions of Tosca, Fidelio, Die Zauberflöte and Wonderful Town. In 2021 he was assistant conductor for The Grange Festival’s production of La Cenerentola and in 2023/24 he will be assistant conductor for Scottish Opera’s new production of Marx in London. Alistair has also conducted productions of Carmen, Faust, Eugene Onegin, The Magic Flute, Cendrillon and La traviata for Fife Opera. As Musical Director of Edinburgh Grand Opera he conducted Les pêcheurs de perles and Cavalleria rusticana, and for Paisley Opera he has conducted La bohème and more recently Cavalleria rusticana in a collaboration with Amicus Orchestra. He returns to conduct a new production of Macbeth in 2023 with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

Other conducting engagements have included the closing concert of the Rainhill Music Festival with RMF Sinfonia and a John Rutter 70th Birthday concert in Scotland featuring Magnificat and Mass of the Children. In December 2019 Alistair conducted the Young Lives vs Cancer Christmas concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, becoming the annual conductor of the event. He has a long association with the charity having previously appeared as the soloist at the annual Christmas concert and having conducted Come and Sing Faure Requiem and Messiah events.

Previous positions held include Musical Director of the London Fairlawn Singers and of Kilmarnock and District Choral Union. He was on the staff of both The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and The Ulster Youth Choirs and is still in demand as an adjudicator, guest conductor and workshop leader throughout the UK.

Alistair has been musical director of The Edinburgh Singers since 2015.