Video: Craig Gordon conducts Scottish National Orchestra

Craig 'Maestro' Gordon leads the Scottish National Orchestra through a rendition of Dance of the Knights. Picture: SNS

CELTIC and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has swapped his gloves for a conductor’s baton for a performance with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO).

The orchestra has been performing in Glasgow Airport’s departure lounge to promote the Best of Scotland Festival with passengers offered the chance to lead the orchestra.

Gordon picked up the baton and led the 60-strong orchestra as Celtic headed to Azerbaijan for a Champions League qualifying match with Qarabag.

RSNO music director Peter Oundjian said: “We’re always looking for new ways to present the live orchestral experience to audiences and over the past four years we’ve developed a successful partnership with Glasgow Airport.

“Last year we invited Scottish Commonwealth gold medal-winning judo champion Sarah Clark to conduct the orchestra in a rendition of Flower of Scotland and this year I was delighted to be joined in front of the musicians by a flurry of talented first-timers, including Craig Gordon, who turned out to be very good with his hands.”

Steven Marshall, marketing and customer insight manager at Glasgow Airport said: “For many, Glasgow Airport is their first and last impression of Scotland, and our Best of Scotland campaign is a great way to celebrate the quality of our country’s fare while also providing exciting and interesting entertainment for our passengers.

“The various events and live performances we have planned, including this eagerly anticipated one from RSNO, will no doubt make a real and lasting impression on the hundreds of thousands of people travelling through our doors.

“We were delighted to see such an enthusiastic response to the conducting challenge.”