About The John Mather Trust


Set up by its eponymous benefactor to benefit young people in the West of Scotland.

Jay Cappernauld

John Mather Rising Star Award 2021

“As a composer at an early stage in my career, the timely support of the John Mather Trust has allowed me to work closely with the RSNO throughout Season 2021/22 as one of the composers in their Scotch Snaps series.

This has enabled me to work with like-minded individuals and raised my profile as a composer, allowing me to reach a wider audience and helping me realise my mission – to create meaningful work that is intellectually stimulating yet also accessible to a more diverse range of listeners than I have been able to reach in the past.

The John Mather Trust’s Rising Star award at this point in my career has granted me freedom from monetary worries, which in turn, provides the most vital gift that can be afforded any artist – the luxury of time and space to create freely.”

Scottish composer Jay Capperauld was born in 1989 in East Ayrshire. He graduated  with a Masters in Composition (with Distinction) from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in 2014.

In his music, Jay aims to explore, interpret, and adapt the traditions of Scottish culture – and his community of Ayrshire – within his own musical language. 

Jay has written for various artists and ensembles, including BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Psappha Ensemble, Hebrides Ensemble, The Wallace Collection, the Glasgow New Music Expedition, and the Glasgow School of Art Choir. 

Jay has a commitment to contributing positively to the culture of the West of Scotland, where he hopes to remain in the long-term and establish a career as a dependable and accessible artistic voice for the new music community and audiences alike. 

Supported over 3,000 individuals


Helping young people in the West of Scotland, specifically to assist them in getting a foothold in a wide range of careers.