Biography

From Bathgate, Rachel Fisher studied music at Napier University, Edinburgh, specialising in guitar performance. She graduated in 2008 with a first-class honours degree, achieving the highest recital mark awarded by the University to date.   Rachel is a winner of the Edinburgh Festival Competition for Music. Her performance was rated as being both ‘sensitive and heartfelt’ and she was commended for her potential to be ‘an outstanding guitarist and musician.’

A keen composer, Rachel has produced some excellent work. Her winning entry into a national competition entitled ‘Whatever happened to music?’ was subsequently performed and recorded live by the Paragon Ensemble. Rachel herself has performed in a variety of venues ranging from quaint church halls to some of Edinburgh’s most prestigious venues, including St Giles Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle’s Grand Hall. She writes, “What captivates me about performance is the aspect of communication … I have a deep love for music and my aim is to be a performer of great status.”

Rachel was offered a place on the Masters programme of all five conservatoires she auditioned for. She will study for a Master of Music at the Birmingham Conservatoire with Mark Ashford and Mark Eden.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will provide essential financial assistance during her postgraduate studies at Birmingham.

Since the Award