Sistema Scotland is the name of the national charity that runs the Big Noise programmes. We currently operate six Big Noise programmes across Scotland.
The Sistema Scotland central team manages the charity's strategic plans and curriculum development, fundraising and finance, HR and operations, and communications and evaluation for all of our Big Noise programmes.
Sistema Scotland is governed by a board which meets at least quarterly and is responsible for the strategic direction of the charity. Our Chief Executive Officer reports to the board, and members come from a variety of backgrounds relevant to our work with a valuable mix of skills and experience.
We are most grateful to all of our funders who make it possible for us support thousands of children and young people across Scotland each week. Sistema Scotland’s six Big Noise programmes are funded differently, through a mixture of public and private sources including the Scottish Government, local authorities, and a number of trusts, foundations, legacies, and individual donors.
Writer and broadcaster, Richard Holloway, founded Sistema Scotland in 2008 with an aim of using music as a tool to bring about positive social change to children in underprivileged areas of Scotland. Nicola Killean OBE was appointed as founding Chief Executive Officer and led the charity from initial establishment in Raploch, to a national organisation operating in six communities across the country.
After ten years as Chairman of Sistema Scotland, Richard retired from the board in 2018, and after fifteen years at the helm, Nicola left the organisation to become Scotland's Commissioner for Children & Young People in 2023.
World-renowned violinist Nicola Benedetti has been a long-standing champion of the work of Big Noise, both as a former board member of Sistema Scotland and in her honorary role as our Big Noise 'Big Sister'.
Over the years Nicola has spent time with our Big Noise programmes across the country, providing inspirational masterclasses and mentorship for our young musicians.
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