2008 Awardee: Sharon Young

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and say that receiving this award will make such a huge difference, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Sharon, originally from Helensburgh, gained a first degree in Eng. Lit. from Glasgow University before going on to study acting at RSAMD. There she has impressed with her range, depth, wit and flexibility in her acting. In her second year at RSAMD she was selected as a candidate for the prestigious UK-wide Laurence Olivier Bursary Competition.

Sharon’s ultimate ambition is to be deeply involved in Scottish theatre. She has already appeared with Oran Mor in Glasgow, with the NTS/Dundee Rep’s ‘Peer Gynt’, directed by Dominic Hill, and at Perth Theatre. Perhaps because of her first degree, Sharon is noted for a creative and intelligent engagement with the text, and she is particularly valued as a committed ensemble player. Sharon is passionate about Scottish theatre and hopes to contribute to the arts in Scotland in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has helped Sharon to finance the final year of her drama degree.

Since the Award

Sharon graduated successfully with a degree in acting and the Phil McCall Memorial prize. She has secured an agent and since worked at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh and the Young Vic in London. She looks forward to a long-term career in the theatre.

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and say that receiving this award will make such a huge difference, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies.

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2008 Awardee: Shaun McLaughlin

I am writing to thank you for your generous award … this will enable me to concentrate on my dancing and not worry about any major financial burdens.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

After a difficult start in life, spending some years under the care of social services, Shaun has worked hard to build on early talent in dance to become a young male dancer of great promise.
When Shaun started out at the Dance School of Scotland he had had no previous dance experience. In the subsequent five years, he made remarkable progress and has now won a coveted place at Elmhurst School of Dance, with links with the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

While still at the Dance School, Shaun won the choreographic competition award which was performed at the Crawford Theatre, Jordanhill. He also won the Progress Prize in his final year at the school, and for the past five years performed in the school’s end of year shows.

Shaun’s ambition is to become a professional dancer. He writes: “dance is not only my passion in life in fact it is my life.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards aims to help Shaun achieve his ambition by supporting him in his dance studies at Elmhurst.

Since the Award

Shaun made excellent progress in his first year. He won the upper school choreography competition which was judged by Sir Peter Wright, Marion Tait and Desmond Kelly. His funding continues into year two.

In his second year, Shaun was offered the opportunity to tour with the Birmingham Royal Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty. He was subsequently invited by the BRB to perform in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo & Juliet. Shaun’s support has been continued into a third year.

Shaun started his third year full of confidence that he would find a job with a major ballet company. After a successful tour with the Birmingham Royal Ballet in Romeo and Juliet it transpired that Shaun had to have an ankle operation. This devastating news effectively halted his progress towards his ultimate goal. Elmhurst fully supported his plan to continue there for a further year to prepare for auditions, and his support from the Dewar Arts Awards was also continued. Shaun writes that without the help of the Dewar Arts Awards, he would not have been able to change his life and become a professional dancer. Update: May 2012

Shaun has gained a place as Second Soloist at The Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre. He will be performing as The Prince in their upcoming production of Cinderella.

Shaun gained a place as Second Soloist at The Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre. He performed as Prince Charming in their production of Cinderella. Read a press article here.

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I am writing to thank you for your generous award … this will enable me to concentrate on my dancing and not worry about any major financial burdens.

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2008 Awardee: Shian Blackwood

I’d like to thank you very much for the offer of the award!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Shian Blackwood from Dunscore, near Dumfries, has been studying clàrsach for six years. In 2003 she was awarded the junior trophy for harp playing in the Dumfries Music Festival. In 2006 she received a Dewar Arts Award to buy an electric harp.

Shian is currently studying music at Stevenson College in Edinburgh. She writes: “The electric harp you so kindly granted me funding for has helped me advance in my studies and personal abilities as a player.” She has studied with our own Maeve Gilchrist, one of the first Dewar Arts Awardees.

Shian reached the point where she needed to upgrade her acoustic harp. Rather than ask us for money to buy a new one, she has asked for funding to go on a course to build her own 33-stringed acoustic harp. We were delighted to help and look forward to hearing the Bohemian harp she hopes to build under the tutelage of Christoph Locherbach from Southern Germany.

How the Award Helped

In 2006, Shian received an award to purchase an electric harp. In 2008, she received an award to attend a harp-making course which resulted in her making her own acoustic harp.

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I’d like to thank you very much for the offer of the award!

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2008 Awardee: Sophie Neil

I can’t thank you enough for granting me a Dewar Arts Award, enabling me to take up a coveted place at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Fife-born Sophie Neil studied drama and theatre arts at Goldsmiths College, London after leaving school. She went on to gain an MA with distinction in Scenography (Theatre Design) at the Central School of Speech and Drama also in London.

Since then Sophie has worked as a scenographer for live performance at various venues including the New South Bank Centre, the Siobhan Davis Studios and Glyndebourne. Her ultimate ambition was to study at the world-renowned National Film and Television School, which would open up wider opportunities to work in film and television as a Production Designer.

Sophie successfully beat off stiff competition from around the world to be one of only eight students accepted onto the course in 2008. She is seen as a talented and sensitive designer, and her entrance project for NFTS both intrigued and delighted the selection panel demonstrating that she would bring new ideas to designing for the screen.

One of Sophie’s secret ambitions is to design for a future Olympics.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Sophie financially through the course in Production Design for Screen at the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

Since the Award

Sophie successfully graduated with an MA in Production Design, gaining a distinction on her dissertation entitled ‘Emptiness’. She writes that her time at NFTS “has inevitably changed my skills and my prospects beyond measure.”

Sophie has been in continuous employment since leaving NFTS, first on the set of “Bel Ami”, due for release in 2011, and currently as an Assistant Art Director with established designer, Peter Bingemann. Sophie’s animation graduate project “The Boy who wanted to be a Lion” was selected for the Short Film Competition at Critics’ Week at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

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I can’t thank you enough for granting me a Dewar Arts Award, enabling me to take up a coveted place at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.

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2008 Awardee: Stephanie Irvine

We are very grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for the confidence they have shown in Stephanie. It has given her a real boost. (Sally Beamish, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 12
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Twelve-year old Stephanie from Gartmore is both a strong singer and extremely talented clàrsach player. She has already recorded a Burns song for use on the soundtrack of ITV’s South Bank Show, and she sang the role of Catriona in Shenachie in the Highland Quest finals broadcast on BBC TV.

From the start Stephanie displayed a natural talent for clàrsach playing far above average for her age. She is involved in a number of groups at her school and participates in the school orchestra, playing challenging parts especially arranged for the harp.

Stephanie is also interested in composing, developing arrangement ideas and is a natural communicator through her music. She is a talent to watch out for in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped Stephanie to purchase a professional harp to help her development as a musician.

Since the Award

Stephanie writes that since getting her new harp, a Starfish ‘Glencoe’ model, the difference in the sound her playing makes is “incredible” and that having her own instrument has helped her to have “a greater sense of my own musical identity”. Stephanie plays in her school orchestra, performed at the official opening of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Visitor Centre and at the opening of her own school new building.

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We are very grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for the confidence they have shown in Stephanie. It has given her a real boost. (Sally Beamish, mother)

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2008 Awardee: Victoria Armstrong

I am sincerely grateful to the trustees for granting me this award for my exchange to Cal Arts, Los Angeles.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Ireland, Victoria Armstrong moved to Glasgow to study drama at RSAMD, where she quickly impressed as an intelligent and compelling acting talent.

Before going on to higher education, Victoria was part of the ‘Rainbow Factory’ drama group in Belfast for five years where she was able to communicate her skills and love of acting to young people. Victoria is considered to be an exciting actor, able to create convincing performances and always willing to explore new possibilities.

Victoria was selected to take part in an exchange programme with Cal Arts, Los Angeles which involved spending 3 months at Cal Arts in early 2008. Victoria describes it as ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and not one that I am ever likely to get again’.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award provided funding to enable Victoria to spend 3 months at Cal Arts College.

Since the Award

Victoria worked with a number of directors, actors and writers at Cal Arts and benefited from working with American texts in America. She writes that the main benefit of spending time at Cal Arts was that “it gave me the opportunity to experience different theatre training. I was able to ….learn a lot about the theatre community there and how differently American actors are trained.”

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I am sincerely grateful to the trustees for granting me this award for my exchange to Cal Arts, Los Angeles.

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2008 Awardee: Wui Man (Raymond) Yui

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 15
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Wui Man (also known as Raymond) is a gifted pianist who moved to Aberdeen with his mother in the early 2000’s. Having no piano to use at home, Raymond would practise at school, and even during the holidays he continued to pracise there for hours every day.

Raymond audition for the Aberdeen City Music School, and at his audition he impressed the board with his considerable music potential and impressive motivation.  He was accepted as a student, allowing him to dedicate himself to his passion and talents.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards supported Raymond in his studies at the Aberdeen City School of music. He lived there as a boarder and was able to practise piano at any time.  This enabled him to quickly develop his skills, both in music and in his spoken English.

Since the Award

Raymond made his concerto debut with the Meadows Chamber Orchestra in Edinburgh in 2010. Crowned as the Aberdeen Young Musician of the Year 2011, he performed concertos with various orchestras in Scotland. He has given recitals at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, and during his studies at ACMS he performed with a jazz band in venues such as the Blue Lamp, and the Edinburgh Jazz Bar.

Raymond has gone on to study at the Guildhall School of Music, and has received additional support from the Awards to facilitate his continued success.  He has won the Springboard Concerto Competition, leading to engagements with the Brighton Youth Orchestra. He continues to go from strength to strength and has a bright career ahead of him.

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2008 Awardee: Aidan Crosbie

Aidan was truly thrilled about the award. (Suzanne Crosbie, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 12
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glaswegian Aidan Crosbie comes from a musical background, with both brother and cousins playing Scottish and Irish traditional music to a high level. Aidan started playing traditional music at the age of six when he joined Comhaltas, playing banjo, whistle and drums. Playing with his sibling and cousins in professional bands and groups around Scotland, Aidan quickly developed confidence performing at school, charity events and festivals including prestigious events such as Celtic Connections.

Aidan regularly enters music competitions, in 2004 coming second and in 2007 winning the All Britain Fleadh for both banjo and drums.

Aidan is considered to be a very talented young musician. He plays with excellent technique combined with a musicality and maturity beyond his years. He is dedicated to his music making and this dedication and enjoyment shines through his playing.  His aim is to study for a degree in traditional music at the RSAMD and already has the talent and drive to blossom into a very fine Scottish musician.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Aidan to buy a professional banjo of the quality he set his heart on.

Since the Award

Aidan writes, “Since receiving the Daughter of Dewar Award, my musicianship has improved enormously – I have benefited from top class tutoring, I enjoy my banjo playing much more, and am delighted at the positive feedback I receive.”

Since buying a new banjo, Aidan has had much success in competitions. In 2009 he won first place at the Glasgow and Scottish Fleadh’s in solo, duet and trio categories and also in duet and trio in the All Britain Fleadh, all of which qualified him to compete in the All Ireland Fleadh in August 2009.

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Aidan was truly thrilled about the award. (Suzanne Crosbie, mother)

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2008 Awardee: James Harrison

This will help me [towards] working in the Scottish film industry, by giving me training in areas that I would be unable to obtain in Scotland

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

James has always wanted to work in films, behind the camera as a director of photography.

Born in England, James moved to Glasgow with his family as a young boy aged eight. He was one of the first students on the new degree course at the RSAMD in digital film and TV production, from where he graduated with a first.

While he was a student, he also worked in the department looking after the digital film and audio equipment. This additional responsibility brought him into contact with a wide range of people and organisations in the industry.

James’ next step after RSAMD is to attend a number of short training programmes at the National Film and TV School in Beaconsfield which are designed to mould high quality entrants into the film and television industries. They will provide him with the essential practical skills he needs in order to break into this highly-competitive industry.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funds James to attend a number of short programmes run by the NFTS, Beaconsfield.

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This will help me [towards] working in the Scottish film industry, by giving me training in areas that I would be unable to obtain in Scotland

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2007 Awardee: Alan Benzie

I believe it is really important to develop my own “voice” both compositionally and as a performer, and I would also love to be a voice for Scottish jazz on the international scene.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

To have a life in music has been Alan’s dream since he was eight years old. A graduate of St Mary’s Music School, Alan started his musical career by learning the violin and was a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland. He represented the City of Edinburgh by playing solo violin in the UK Holocaust Memorial concert.

Then he discovered jazz. He switched to playing the piano, set up a jazz quartet (Take 4) at school, with whom he has performed throughout Scotland and helped to launch a BBC youth initiative. Take 4received the School’s Director of Music’s discretionary Award for Musical Achievement.
Up until then, Alan was largely self-taught on the jazz piano. He then had the benefit of tuition from a number of leading pianists/composers who helped him develop and refine his technique and composing. A self-confessed obsessive jazz pianist by this time, Alan took every opportunity to play – with Tommy Smith’s Youth Jazz Orchestra, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and his own jazz quintet. He also was a regular performer in Edinburgh’s Jazz Bar, which led to great opportunities to play gigs with the best jazz musicians around.

Being offered a scholarship to study jazz piano at Berklee was a dream come true. By this time, Alan was being noticed as a jazz pianist of huge potential and, unsurprisingly, he won the BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year at the same time as being accepted by Berklee.

On arrival at Berklee Alan made history by being awarded the highest ‘rating’ of any Scot entering Berklee for more than 20 years.

As well as allowing him to be in some of Berklee’s top student ensembles, this also gave him the opportunity to study with Berklee’s premier piano teacher, JoAnne Brackeen. He writes,”I had been hoping that it might be possible to study with her later on in my studies if things went really well, so I’m over the moon to have it happen from the start.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards is supporting Alan’s studies at Berklee.

Since the Award

Alan spent four remarkable years at Berklee, getting straight ‘A’s’ for his studies, winning the 2009 Alex Ulanowski Award for outstanding composition, taking over the piano chair of the Berklee Rainbow All Stars ensemble and culminating in receiving the 2010-11 Billboard Award.

He graduated Summa Cum Laude in the summer of 2011. In his last semester, he represented Berklee with his quartet at the Monterey Next Generation Festival. He went on to the Rochester International Jazz Festival to perform with his trio as part of the ‘Made in the UK’ series. He also had time to play with a couple of jazz legends; in one of Hal Crook’s ensembles at Berklee and with Jerry Bergonzi on one of his latest projects.

Alan writes of his whole Berklee experience that “I’ve been able to get a taste of what it’s like to play with some of the best musicians out there….and thereby learn some important lessons that no classroom can give you.”

July 2015 – Alan and his trio released the acclaimed debut album ‘Traveler’s Tales’, inspired by Alan’s travels as a musician, the landscape of Scotland and his love of Japanese animation.

Alan Benzie performing ‘Glass’

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I believe it is really important to develop my own “voice” both compositionally and as a performer, and I would also love to be a voice for Scottish jazz on the international scene.

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