2006 Awardee: Gillian Horn
Gillian has made great progress in the few weeks since the new bassoon was delivered, and is enjoying her playing much more. (Stewart Horn, father)
Biography
From Eaglesham in Glasgow, Gillian Horn started playing bassoon three years ago when she was 10. From the start she impressed as a natural musician with an affinity with the bassoon.
She has been playing with an inferior instrument on loan from the local authority. In fact, it has astounded her teachers that her playing has been so good on such a poor instrument. Gillian is a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland, sometimes playing principal bassoon, and has now been accepted onto the RSAMD YouthWorks, a programme for talented young musicians. She also plays in school and local authority bands, in fact, whenever she has the opportunity.
At age 13, it is uncertain whether Gillian will progress to become a professional musician. However, at this stage she certainly has the potential in her technique and style of performance to become one.
How the Award Helped
The Dewar Arts Award helped towards the purchase of a good quality bassoon for Gillian.
Since the Award
According to Gillian, when she played her old bassoon she sounded like a duck on occasion. Since getting her new bassoon she has joined the Edinburgh and Aberdeen Youth Orchestras, the East Renfrewshire Schools Symphony Orchestra and the RSAMD Youthworks First Orchestra. Gillian rapidly reached Grade 8 level and has received more compliments from professional musicians on her tone quality than, well,a duck quacks in a day.
Gillian has made great progress in the few weeks since the new bassoon was delivered, and is enjoying her playing much more. (Stewart Horn, father)