Librarian; Born June 29, 1948; Died September 25, 208.

Myra Mackay, who has died aged 60, was one of the world's leading orchestral librarians, known and admired by librarians across the globe, including my new orchestra in Indianapolis, USA.

I always heard news about the music business from Myra through her many contacts in Mola (Major Orchestra Librarians' Association) - the best network for information and gossip in the orchestra world.

What many people do not realise is that the library is the heart and soul of an orchestra. Unless the music itself is flawless, the rehearsals and performances can be ruined.

It is, therefore, vital that the librarian is capable and unflappable. Myra had a unique combination of both of these qualities, together with a cheerful and loving disposition, and she truly understood that "the show must go on". She would do whatever it took to ensure that the musicians were well served.

Myra, who was from Kilsyth, North Lanarshire, began her career when she joined the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra as librarian in 1970. This was a very busy period for the SRO, bringing Myra into contact with many world-renowned stars such as Stephane Grappelli, Charles Aznavour, Johnny Mathis and even Rod Stewart. One of her career highlights was working with Ella Fitzgerald. Many musicians became lifelong friends, including household names like Moira Anderson and Kenneth McKellar.

After 1982, when she joined the Scottish National Orchestra as librarian, Myra gained the admiration and trust of many renowned musicians and conductors from the classical world. Sir Alexander Gibson, Neeme Jarvi, Alexander Lazarev and others relied on her, not only for their work with the RSNO, but for projects worldwide. And in the film music world, in which the RSNO played a large part in the 1990s, she worked with composers such as Elmer Bernstein, Jerry Goldsmith and Carl Davis.

Myra became an authority on film music, and orchestral librarians throughout the business would regularly consult her.

I remember one occasion when the orchestra gave a concert with Elmer Bernstein to mark his 80th birthday at the Royal Festival Hall in London. One of the scores needed to be edited at the last minute, and Myra worked on the orchestra parts backstage, completing them just in time for the performance.

At another recording session, the parts for the theme music to the film Judge Dredd were not compatible with the score, and Myra rewrote them, finishing with just five minutes of the session to spare. We stood backstage with crossed fingers, knowing that we only had one chance to record the piece, and, of course, it worked perfectly.

Myra had a family background in film - her great uncle was the legendary Hollywood film music director and composer, Muir Mathieson, who worked on the scores of Hamlet and Henry V for Laurence Olivier, as well as conducting the original recording of Bernard Hermann's Vertigo, which was later re-recorded by the RSNO. And Myra inherited his love for high drama: "MGM presents" was one of her familiar sayings as she wryly recounted the latest display of ego from a conductor or musician.

In the turbulent world of orchestras, Myra was a steady and calming influence on her colleagues, both in the administration and in the orchestra itself. The library became known as the "therapy room" - a safe haven to share problems and receive comfort.

Myra was so proud of her two sons, Rory and Iain. Both boys trained as ballet dancers, starting at the Scottish Ballet School in Knightswood, and then at the Royal Ballet School.

For many years Myra and her husband, John, spent the weekends driving their sons to Birmingham for classes, and she was overjoyed when first Rory joined English National Ballet and later, Birmingham Royal Ballet, while Iain went straight to Birmingham Royal Ballet, where he is now a principal, with several roles created for him.

Despite her intense pride in her sons' accomplishments, Myra was never a typical "ballet mum". She believed in supporting her sons and not pushing them. Her chief delight was to see them dance, and last month she was in Madrid to see Iain perform at the Opera House.

Myra Mackay will be sadly missed by her colleagues and friends in the music business all over the world, from conductors, soloists and musicians to administrators and, of course, librarians. We are all grateful for all that she has done for musicians and audiences over the years. She is survived by her husband John and sons Rory and Iain.