2017 Awardee: Shyvonne Ahmmad

"Supporting myself through the degree was going to be a massive obstacle. My Dewar Arts Award has been pivotal in me pursuing my aspirations...words cannot describe how thankful I am to be able to prioritise my learning...it is a life-changing privilege."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

From a young age Shyvonne Ahmmad has proven herself to be a young actor of outstanding ability. Her talent and dedication has brought exciting opportunities her way, and she is driven to succeed.

Shyvonne was born in Stoke on Trent, but spent most of her childhood in Perth. From an early age she was enthused by film, television and theatre, and nurtured a desire to be part of that industry in the future.  SHe pursued this ambition by attending the Acting and Performance course at Edinburgh College and graduated with an HND.

Her time in Edinburgh afforded opportunities to play some iconic roles in theatre, such as Medea and Wendla from Spring Awakening. It also gave her the impetus to continue learning her craft, and on graduation Shyvonne gained a place on the BA Acting course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

In 2017, Shyvonne was chosen from more than 90 auditionees to take the lead role in ‘Snowflake’.  A new graduate ensemble production, Snowflake was co-created by the Scottish Drama Training Network and the Pleasance Theatre Trust, directed by Mark Thomson and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Shyvonne was hailed as “an extraordinarily talented actor”, whose performance was “compelling, touching, charismatic and palpably ‘realistic'”.

She says that all of these experiences have strengthened her passion and dedication for the arts, and her ambition is such that she is “looking to shoot for the moon”.

How the Award Helped

Shyvonne’s Award supported her during her studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Scottish Drama Training Network – The Snowflake

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"Supporting myself through the degree was going to be a massive obstacle. My Dewar Arts Award has been pivotal in me pursuing my aspirations...words cannot describe how thankful I am to be able to prioritise my learning...it is a life-changing privilege."

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2017 Awardee: Rachel Rankin

"With support from the Dewar Arts Awards, I am able to fund my postgraduate studies and focus completely on my creative work. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity as I know this award will help me on my way to becoming the best writer I can be. Thank you."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born in 1994, Rachel is a writer and poet from Coatbridge, described as ‘utterly committed’ with ‘outstanding potential’.

After gaining a first class mark in creative writing studies at the University of Edinburgh, Rachel was offered a place to study on the MSc Creative Writing. She opted to follow the poetry strand, and alongside her studies has acted as a poetry editor for 50GS (an online creative journal) and volunteered with the Scottish Poetry Library.  She has worked part-time as Deputy Programme Assistant at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and as a Tutor in Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

Rachel’s work has been published in various journals including Gutter magazine and Antiphon. In 2017 she was shortlisted for the Jane Martin Poetry Prize, organised annually by Girton College at the University of Cambridge. She has performed her work both nationally and internationally and has twice been on the winning team of Unislam, the UK’s inter-university performance poetry championship.

Rachel has competed in a national performance poetry competition at the University of Texas, represented Scotland at the Talking Doorsteps Poetry Project at the Roundhouse, and performed her work in Bergen, Norway, where she lived in 2014-15.

As well as poetry, Rachel is interested in playwriting and writing for the theatre. Her play exploring class relations at university was selected from 75 five entries to be performed at the Winter Words New Writing Festival, organised by Glasgow based In Motion Theatre Company. She has been involved with the Traverse Young Writers group at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh and was selected to participate in the Scottish Review of Books Emerging Critics Mentoring Programme, where she was mentored by editor Alan Taylor.

How the Award Helped

Rachel received an award to help support her through her postgraduate studies on the MSc Creative Writing at the University of Edinburgh.

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"With support from the Dewar Arts Awards, I am able to fund my postgraduate studies and focus completely on my creative work. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity as I know this award will help me on my way to becoming the best writer I can be. Thank you."

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2017 Awardee: Martin Thomson

"If it wasn't for the generous support of the trust i wouldn't be able to pursue my dreams of studying in London and making my projects flourish into a professional career."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://theoldjellyrollers.com/
EMAIL:martin@oldfountainjazzorchestra.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/dopeymonmusic

Biography

Originally from Elgin, Moray, Martin learned to play the Euphonium through the Council’s Music Education Scheme. He played with Moray Concert Brass and Moray Senior Windband, and in 2011 moved to Edinburgh to study at St Mary’s Music School.

Alongside his Euphonium studies at St Mary’s, Martin won the SMMS Concerto Competition. He has performed concertos and solo pieces across the UK; as a soloist with various brass bands as well as performing in his trombone quartet, Aeris Brass with fellow Dewar Awardee Adam Crighton. Together they have both performed alongside Carol Jarvis, John Kenny, Mike Lovatt, Rex Richardson, Glenn Munro, Susan Hamilton, Emily White and Rick Taylor.

Martin co-founded jazz tuba duo ‘Dopey Monkey’ with tuba player Danielle Price, exploring a more contemporary side to their instruments. He is also one of the founders of the ‘Old Fountain Jazz Orchestra’ –  a big band featuring musicians from conservatoires across UK. The orchestra raise money for various charities and provide an educational resource for areas where there is no jazz education.

As part of New Orleans style jazz band ‘The Old Jelly Rollers’, Martin and six fellow musicians raised money to go to New Orleans. There they interviewed various jazz legends, to educate themselves and others about the origins of jazz music.

In 2015, Martin gained a place to study at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. This offered him the chance to study under tuba soloist Oren Marshall, which had been his dream.  The BMus Jazz course offered him the perfect opportunity to advance his skills to the next level and pursue a career as a euphonium artist.

https://www.facebook.com/aerisbrass/

How the Award Helped

Martin’s Award supported his studies at Trinity Laban.

The Old Fountain Jazz Orchestra

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"If it wasn't for the generous support of the trust i wouldn't be able to pursue my dreams of studying in London and making my projects flourish into a professional career."

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2017 Awardee: Eva Macfarlane

"Without the support of the Dewar Arts Awards, I would never have been able to take up my place here in London...I am excited for the future, and for the opportunities to come!"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Glasgow, Eva is a skilled and respected mezzo-soprano.

From a young age, Eva knew she had a great interest and passion for singing, and attended Douglas Academy Music School to further develop her musical talents. Here, through the combined work of Ruth Dean, Derek Norvall and Mark Evans, Eva developed her ambition to follow a singing career, and in 2013 she successfully auditioned for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Eva studied a Bachelor of Music in voice with Kathleen McKellar-Ferguson, and graduated with a first class honours degree in 2017. During her time at the RCS, Eva was a valued member of the RCS Voices and took part in prestigious performances of the St John Passion (with Bach choral scholar John Butt), and Beethoven’s Mass and Choral Fantasia (with the SSO).

Eva has performed as a concert soloist and operatically, and in 2016 performed the role of Fanny Price in Jonathon Dove’s ‘Mansfield Park’ with the Edinburgh Studio Opera. Other roles include Idamante in the Idomeneo Love Duet (Mozart Idomeneo), Mrs Quickly in the Letter Quartet (Verdi Falstaff), Sesto in Handel’s ‘Cesare’, and Gianetta in Donizetti’s ‘L’Elisir D’Amore’.

In 2017, Eva was offered the opportunity to study a Masters of Arts at the Royal Academy of Music, under the tutelage of Elizabeth Ritchie and Coach James Baillieu.

How the Award Helped

Eva’s award enabled her to pursue her passion for singing, by undertaking her Master of Performance (vocal studies) degree at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

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"Without the support of the Dewar Arts Awards, I would never have been able to take up my place here in London...I am excited for the future, and for the opportunities to come!"

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2017 Awardee: Marcus Swietlicki

"A Dewar Arts Award [will] greatly help to set me on this training path required to reach my full potential and...achieve my goal of becoming a professional opera singer on the international stage"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Marcus’ first foray into singing was with the The National Boys Choir of Scotland when he was 11 years old.  At the age of 14 he showed prodigious talent, described by tutors as “an extremely exciting young tenor with huge potential” and “the most outstanding young singer of this age group that I have taught.”

Marcus studied under Kathleen McKellar Ferguson, lecturer at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. At the age of 15 he performed the tenor solo “Like a Singing Bird” by Chilcott in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall accompanied by the National Boys Choir of Scotland.  He then successfully auditioned and gained a place on the Scottish Opera Connect Course for young singers, and took part in performances alongside professional singers.

Marcus was chosen to take part in a masterclass with Judith Howarth, and in 2015 gained a coveted place in the tenor section of The National Youth Choir of Scotland.  He toured to France as part of the choir, taking part in the Berlioz Festival at La Cote St Andre, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

In 2016, Marcus was awarded the Winifred Crawford Smith Medal for the under 18 recital at The Edinburgh Competition Festival, was invited to take part in the end of festival concert in The Queens Hall, and was awarded First Place at The Glasgow Music Festival for the Oratorio Under 18 Class Competition. He was awarded winner of the Rotary Club Young Musician 2016 Competition (Scotland & NE England Final), sang as part of the NYCoS choir at the London Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, and took part in a two-week tour to the U.S A. He then successfully auditioned to take part in a masterclass at the Junior Oxenfoord Course with Malcolm Martineau.

In April 2017, Marcus performed as the tenor soloist in two public performances of Handel’s “The Messiah” with Abbey Consort Choir.  He was just 18.

Marcus continued his studies at the RCS, tutored by Professor Stephen Robertson on the B.Mus Vocal Studies course. He has a genuine passion for opera and hopes to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional singer and performing on the international stage.

How the Award Helped

Marcus’ Award supported him in his studies at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, on the four-year Bachelor of Music vocal course.

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"A Dewar Arts Award [will] greatly help to set me on this training path required to reach my full potential and...achieve my goal of becoming a professional opera singer on the international stage"

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2017 Awardee: Rory Swietlicki

"I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Award for enabling me to attend the Central School of Ballet, and setting me on the path to gaining the experience and training to hopefully fulfil my dream of becoming a professional dancer."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Rory began dancing at a very young age, and has always shown passion, strong focus, and commitment to developing his skills to the highest level.

At age 12, Rory took part in a competitive audition process and gained a place at the prestigious Dance School of Scotland.  During his time at the school he was awarded the Progress Prize, took part in the school’s choreography performances, and performed in end of year shows at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow and The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. In 2013 he successfully auditioned for a part in Scottish Ballet’s production of Hansel & Gretel.   At the age of 16, Rory gained his RAD Advanced 1 (Ballet), ISTD Advanced 2 (National Dance), and ISTD Intermediate (Modern Dance) certificates.

In 2016, Rory was offered a place on the Scottish Ballet’s Youth Exchange Programme, where he attended weekly classes and workshops at Scottish Ballet.  This took much dedication and commitment as he took part in this alongside his dance school classes and studying for his National 5 exams.

Rory travelled to New York with the Youth Exchange group to collaborate with students from TISCH School of The Arts at New York University.  While there he had the opportunity to take classes at New York City Ballet.

At age 16, Rory competed against students from the UK and abroad for a place to study at the prestigious Central School of Ballet, London.  He was proud to be the only student in his year achieve this, and accepted a place on the BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Performance.

How the Award Helped

Rory’s Award supported him in attending the Central School of Ballet, and pursuing his chosen career.

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"I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Award for enabling me to attend the Central School of Ballet, and setting me on the path to gaining the experience and training to hopefully fulfil my dream of becoming a professional dancer."

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2017 Awardee: Matthew Grouse

"This was a vital learning experience and one I feel has created a very tangible sense of forward momentum in my musical career"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.matthewgrousemusic.com/
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/grouseyy

Biography

Matthew is a musician with exceptional credentials, exhibiting skills in a wide variety of settings from large scale compositions involving electronics and voices to delicate chamber works.

His work regularly combines media and is often concerned with human frailties and finding the remarkable in the seemingly ordinary aspects of everyday life. Activities include selection for Yaron Deutsch’s Electric Guitar Etude Project at Darmstadt; an EP release on New York based label, Not Art Records and being shortlisted in two categories of the 2018 Scottish Awards for New Music.

Matthew’s music has been showcased across the UK and internationally, in Germany, Italy, Egypt, USA, Canada and Ireland. His music has been performed or workshopped by artists including: Royal Northern Sinfonia; Hebrides Ensemble; Red Note Ensemble; The Assembly Project; DeCoda Ensemble; Gildas Quartet; Dohnányi String Trio; Sinae Lee (pianist) and Lewis Banks (saxophonist).

His work has featured at or is programmed for future performances at festivals such as Darmstadt; The Cumnock Tryst; St Magnus International Festival; Cottier Chamber Project; Leeds Lieder Festival; EviMus Festival and Sound / Image Colloquium.

Matthew is also passionate about inclusivity within new music. This has been reinforced by being awarded the 2017 Kimie Composition Prize, which resulted in Live Music Now Scotland commissioning an interactive string trio for performances in dementia care homes and traditional concert hall settings. Further to this, Matthew received an orchestral commission for the Nevis Ensemble’s inaugural tour, which will take in 70 performances in public and community settings around Scotland as part of Glasgow2018.

How the Award Helped

Industrious and dedicated, Matthew studied composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and whilst there was offered a place on the prestigious St Magnus Festival Composer’s Course. His Award supported him in accessing this exceptional opportunity to further develop his already commendable skillset.

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"This was a vital learning experience and one I feel has created a very tangible sense of forward momentum in my musical career"

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2017 Awardee: Stephanie Hunter

"The financial support from the Dewar Arts Award afforded me the time to learn without worrying about the income I couldn't afford to spare on professional development. I am endlessly grateful."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.stephaniekatiehunter.com/
 
 

Biography

Stephanie is a dynamic, committed and highly capable producer.  Her knowledge of contemporary performance and enthusiasm for her work has enabled her to produce work and manage projects on both national and international platforms.

Having trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Stephanie has collaborated with artists and organisations including the National Theatre of Scotland, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, the National Theatre, the Citizens, Tramway, Anna Krzystek, Graham McLaren, Pachamama Productions, Indepen-Dance and Glas(s) Performance.

Stephanie’s ambition is to facilitate meaningful conversation between artists and their audiences through bespoke engagement activity.

How the Award Helped

Stephanie’s Award enabled her to attend Stage One’s New Producers’ Workshop.  This gave her the opportunity to reflect on her experience to date whilst accruing new skills and developing her creative networks.

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"The financial support from the Dewar Arts Award afforded me the time to learn without worrying about the income I couldn't afford to spare on professional development. I am endlessly grateful."

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2017 Awardee: Niall Anderson

"It is a tremendous privilege to study at such an institution and my Dewar Award has contributed to my studies immensely."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.niallandersonbaritone.co.uk/
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/NAndoBaritone

Biography

Originally from the Levenmouth area of Fife, Niall attended the Kirkland High School in Methil before going on to complete a Bachelor of Music Degree at the University of Aberdeen.

Niall’s love for singing was encouraged from an early age, but his passion for classical singing was discovered during his undergraduate degree. Upon graduating from the University of Aberdeen Niall was awarded the Carlaw Music award for all round musicianship. He then went on to gain a place to study at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of  Glenville Hargreaves and Jonathan Papp.

Performances to date include Bach’s St Johannes Passion in Germany, Brahms Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Mess Solennelle and the title role in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Niall made his Wigmore Hall debut in the Autumn of 2017 in a recital with Julian Prégardien and Christoph Schnakertz.

Niall has been a member of the prestigious Royal Academy of Music Song Circle and a featured soloist in the 2018 Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series.

How the Award Helped

Niall’s Award supported his postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music.

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"It is a tremendous privilege to study at such an institution and my Dewar Award has contributed to my studies immensely."

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2017 Awardee: Grace Green

"Receiving Dewar Arts Award funding has ensured my continued involvement with the National Ensemble 2017...furthering my training and learning and growth. Thank you."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From a young age, Grace had passion and talent for acting.  This was nurtured by classes at the Moray Steiner School (now the Drumduan School), by becoming a member of the Scottish Ballet Junior Associate Scheme and by auditioning successfully for the Eden Court Young Dance Company for 5 years consecutively.

Grace’s training also includes LAMDA syllabus acting exams and shows, productions with Youth Music Theatre UK, and being a company member of the Eden Court Collective for the National Theatre of Scotland Exchange Festival 2016. Grace has experience as a young company member for Ballet L’orent and the Rosie Kay Dance Company.

In 2017, Grace became a member of the inaugural Scottish Youth Theatre National Ensemble, where she had the opportunity to train with Frantic Assembly, fight director James McReady, devise and write a show with BAFTA award-winning writer David Cosgrove, and take a Shakespearean masterclass with Scottish Youth Theatre artistic director Mary McCluskey.

As a member of the National Youth Arts Advisory Group (working in conjunction with Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government), Grace developed her commitment to young people’s progression in and through the arts, and to the ‘Time to Shine’ National Youth Arts Strategy.  Her ambition is to continue her training in acting and physical theatre, and go on to teach and facilitate.

How the Award Helped

Grace’s Dewar Award supported her engagement with the National Ensemble 2017.

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"Receiving Dewar Arts Award funding has ensured my continued involvement with the National Ensemble 2017...furthering my training and learning and growth. Thank you."

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