Biography

Raised in Lenzie, Calum began studying music at the RSAMD Junior Academy where he was noticed as someone of talent and innate musicality. He went on to study marimba and percussion at RSAMD from where he graduated with a first-class degree.

During his undergraduate years, he won the Governor’s percussion competition in his second year which resulted in recording a solo in the BBC’s “Classics Unwrapped” series. He also spent a year as guest student at the Mannheim Musikhochschule studying solo and chamber music under the direction of Jasmin Kohlberg and Dennis Kuhn.

Calum regularly participates in international competitions and was the only percussionist to reach the semi-finals of the 2011 Royal Overseas League Competition.

Calum was accepted onto the MMus in solo and chamber music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD). He is aiming to build a solo career as a marimbist/percussionist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award supported Calum in studying his masters course in solo and chamber music.

Since the Award

2012

Calum’s passion and commitment has allowed him to perform solo debuts within the major concert houses across the United Kingdom and Germany. He has performed with orchestras such as BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Scottish Opera and Mannheim National Theatre.  He has recently made his international debut as guest principal with Jyvaskyla Sinfonietta in Finland and has performed for Royalty with Flercussion in Abu Dhabi.

As well as being a first class performer, Calum’s passion lies in cross-arts collaborations and teaching.  He is now an active and sought after percussion tutor and workshop leader throughout the UK, a musical and artistic director for several of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Summer Schools and is an accompanist for contemporary dance and theatre.

Reviews:

Glasgow Concert Hall Concert, Guardian Review July 2012
Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Concert, Times Review June 2012
Glasgow Concert Hall Concert, Guardian Review February 2012
Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Concert, Times Review February 2012

2021

In 2020, Calum signed to award-winning record label, Delphian.  He released his debut album in 2021 – American Music for Marimba.