Biography

Glasgow-born Robert Anderson was one of the first members of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland, going on to play with NYOS. Starting first at the RSAMD Junior Department, Robert was awarded the Stevenson Scholarship by RSAMD to continue his studies there as an undergraduate.

Whilst an undergraduate, Robert won numerous prizes for solo playing, chamber music and academic work. He was invited to perform with world-class chamber musicians such as Levon Chilingirian and Alasdair Tait at the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival and subsequently in London, and he was invited by the section principal to freelance with the RSNO. Robert founded and performed widely with the Alba String Quartet, of which it has been said, “Scotland is indeed fortunate to have a young Quartet of this calibre which is prepared to work tirelessly for the advancement of chamber music on all levels.”

Robert graduated with a first-class degree in 2007. He has been invited by “one of the greatest living Scottish musicians, the internationally-renowned ‘cellist Alexander Baillie” to study with him for an MA in Music Performance in Bremen. He is seen as a young ‘cellist with enormous potential and studying in Germany is likely to be enriching both culturally and musically.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards Robert’s fees and living expenses at the Bremen Conservatoire.

Since the Award

Robert writes that his first year at Bremen, studying with Professor Baillie, was ‘a life-changing experience’ and that ‘the way I play the ‘cello has undergone a transformation’. Following auditions, Robert received the Caird Foundation’s Bloch Prize for outstanding string player. He also won places in the Baltic Youth Philharmonic and the Netherlands Orchestra Academy and toured with the Vienna Tonkunstler Orchestra in 2009.

Robert’s plans took an exciting turn when he decided not to take up the second year funding to continue his studies with Professor Baillie, but instead accepted an offer from the International Menuhin Music Academy in Bern, Switzerland.