2018 Awardee: Ross Montgomery

"I am extremely grateful for the Dewar Arts Awards and their generous support."

Biography

Ayrshire-born clarinettist and saxophonist Ross began his musical studies as a pianist, entering the Royal Scottish Academy Junior Department at the age of eight. At 16, Ross then took up the saxophone and clarinet, studying at Douglas Academy, and moved on to study both instruments at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), completing his Joint Principal Study bachelor’s degree in 2015.

Ross turned his focus to the clarinet during his second year at RCS and during his studies, spent an exchange term at the Conservatorio di Verona E.F. Dall’Abaco in Italy. In 2016, Ross completed a Master of Arts Performance in clarinet at RCS, for which he was gratefully supported by Help Musicians UK.

Performing on both clarinet and saxophone, Ross has enjoyed orchestral experience across the UK and Europe, in 2010 performing the premiere of Katrina Gordon’s Saxophone Concerto with the Highland Chamber Orchestra at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness. Ross has performed saxophone with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, clarinet with I Virtuosi Italiani and in 2012 took part in the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Mentoring Scheme. In 2016, he was selected to be mentored on clarinet with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and he has played alongside Red Note Ensemble as part of its Advanced Academy collaboration with Paris Conservatoire and Sibelius Academy.

Ross has toured the UK, Umbria and Tuscany performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with Stirling Orchestra and Raucous Rossini, and performed Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet with the Allegri String Quartet for concerts in Honor Oak Park and Richmond. He is a former member of ‘Athenaeum Winds’ – Enterprise Music Scotland artists from 2013-2016.

In 2017, Ross performed as Co-Principal with Southbank Sinfonia, as well as appearing as soloist; performing Weber’s Clarinet Concertino in London and Anghiari Festival, in Tuscany. In 2018 he gained an offerto continue his studies at Royal College of Music, on the Artist Diploma course under the tutelage of Richard Hosford and Tim Lines.

How the Award Helped

Ross’ Award supported him in undertaking his Artist Diploma in Performance at the Royal College of Music.

"I am extremely grateful for the Dewar Arts Awards and their generous support."