Kate Molleson

Molleson grew up in various areas of Scotland, as well as in Canada's far north.^[2] She was interested in classical music as a child.^[3] She studied musicology at King's College London and clarinet performance at McGill University in Canada.^[2]

Molleson worked in several different roles for the Montreal Gazette up to 2010 at the latest,^[4][2] and was the deputy editor of Opera magazine, before returning to Scotland.^[2] She then began reviewing classical music for The Guardian in 2010.^[5][2]

Molleson presented BBC Radio 3 concerts from 2015 onwards^[6] and first presented Breakfast on BBC Radio 3 in May 2021.^[7] Molleson has presented documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service.^[8] In 2022, Molleson remained a commentator upon classical music and an observer of the broader classical music scene.^[9] In 2023, she began presenting some editions of Composer of the Week on BBC Radio 3,^[10] with Donald Macleod presenting the other editions of the programme. Molleson also presents Music Matters on BBC Radio 3.^[11][12] In 2025, a 40-episode series about radical or slightly radical composers from the 20th century, presented by Molleson, began to be broadcast on Radio 3.^[13] Molleson has also presented Afternoon Concert and Hear and Now on BBC Radio 3.^[14]

In 2022, Molleson's book Sound Within Sound^[15] was published;^[16] it explores the stories of composers who defied and pushed against conventions in the 20th century.^[17] The book is a collection of essays.^[3]

Molleson lives in Edinburgh.^[18]

Molleson sits on the board of directors of the Dunedin Consort,^[18] a UK-based baroque ensemble.^[19]

• Sound Within Sound: Opening Our Ears to the Twentieth Century ISBN 978-0-7710-5166-1