Meet Rufus Sullivan, the Cumnock Tryst's new Senior Producer
/The Cumnock Tryst is delighted to welcome its new Senior Producer Rufus Sullivan who starts this week. We caught up with him to find out a little more about him and explore his musical passions.
Hi Rufus, we’re excited to be welcoming you to the team here at Cumnock Tryst. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be involved in the world of arts administration.
I was born in Glasgow and grew up in or near the city before heading to St Andrews to study marine biology. In St Andrews I discovered music and enjoyed being active in the music world in the town.
After graduating I began working as the Graduate Trainee split between the Music Centre for the University of St Andrews and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. It was here I got my first taste of working in the Scottish arts world experiencing work with festivals, operas, orchestras and in schools. After finishing my year with the Music Centre and the SCO I began freelancing as an arts administrator and producer enjoying an eclectic selection of projects with the SCO, Lammermuir Festival, East Neuk Festival, St Andrews Voices Festival, Abu Dhabi Science Festival and Music Co-OPERAtive Scotland amongst others. More recently I have been working as Festival Manager for St Andrews Voices Festival, Administrator for the Edinburgh Quartet and Arts Activist for the East Neuk Festival.
Outside of work I have enjoyed getting involved in environmental work including some school workshops that I designed and led.
What has been your experience of the Tryst up until this point?
My first experience of the Tryst was last year as a volunteer getting to enjoy several of the events at the festival whilst also helping out. A particular highlight was the Farmers Choir on the Saturday evening who put on a great show for all those at the Dumfries Arms Hotel.
Do you know the area of Cumnock and Doon Valley well?
The Tryst drew me to visit Cumnock for the first time last October. I was really taken by the area and the people were incredibly warm and friendly. I am excited knowing that I will very soon be exploring the area, discovering the hidden gems, and getting to know lots of different people through the many strands of work the Cumnock Tryst undertake.
What are you most looking forward to about your new role?
What excites me about this role is getting to join an amazing team to deliver the festival alongside other concerts and events throughout the year. But above all of that I can’t wait to get started with the Musical Celebration of the Coalfields project and see it develop with the community over the next two years!
What do you think makes the Cumnock Tryst special?
The Cumnock Tryst nests itself within the community in Cumnock and the Doon Valley and is special for how important the community involvement is with every event that the Tryst puts on. Nothing is more important to the Tryst than how much it can give back to the wonderful community in Cumnock!
What is your favourite piece of music (It doesn’t need to be by James MacMillan!)
This is one of those impossible questions that you find yourself having to answer… At a push I would probably have to bring a very sombre mood and choose Henry Purcell’s Funeral Sentences for the death of Queen Mary II. Not a very easy question to answer!
Do you play and instrument or sing yourself?
In St Andrews I was very lucky to sing with St Salvator’s Chapel Choir and since leaving St Andrews I have occasionally sung with the SCO Chorus but I don’t get to sing as much as I would like!
Who is your favourite artist?
Most often I would answer this with someone that died hundreds of years ago – maybe Purcell or Beethoven… but perhaps if I chose someone more recent I would say Alan Silvestri, an American composer known for his film scores. He wrote the music for my favourite film, Forrest Gump, and the whole score is absolutely fantastic!
Welcome Rufus!
