2006 Awardee: David Blyth

I am absolutely delighted to receive confirmation that the Dewar Arts team have agreed to support my forthcoming exhibition

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

David, a graduate of Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, was brought up in Perth. Since completing a Master of Art & Design, he has developed his practice as a contemporary artist. His main inspiration comes from rural North-East of Scotland where he has now settled.

David is considered to be one of the most original, inventive and thought-provoking young artists working in Scotland today. In 2003, he represented Scotland in the Venice Biennale and in 2005/06 he was Town Artist in Huntly. His unique and creative take on Aberdeenshire and the North-East inspired and challenged the local community.

It has been written of his work that, “the material he chooses to work with is often deliberately rural and particular to Scotland. He celebrates the local and the lore of a forgotten countryside… He is a unique artist dealing with matters that themselves are now foreign to most urban dwellers but this is why he is a vital element of the Scottish contemporary art scene.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award financed the production of a catalogue to support David’s first solo exhibition Knockturne at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Since the Award

The exhibition later went to Lille, France under the auspices of ARTCONNEXION.

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I am absolutely delighted to receive confirmation that the Dewar Arts team have agreed to support my forthcoming exhibition

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2006 Awardee: David Fennessey

Thank you very much for your offer. I can't tell you what a big difference this will make to my stay here in Frankfurt in terms of being able to concentrate fully on what I am here to do.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 30
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Ireland, David Fennessy came to Scotland to pursue postgraduate study in composition at the RSAMD, Glasgow. He was considered to be amongst the very top group of students. David – who went to the same school as Damien Rice – learned to read music relatively late in life (15) having, up until then, played electric guitar in rock bands. David’s first contact with ‘classical’ music was when he saw a man playing classical guitar in a Dublin street. He asked him to teach him classical guitar.

David’s work has already received critical acclaim. He was shortlisted twice for the International Gaudeamus Music Prize in Amsterdam. His work has been performed in Ireland, Europe, Australia, South America and the US by a huge number of orchestras and ensembles, including the RSNO, SCO and Hebrides Ensemble. His String Quartet performed by the Endymion Ensemble will receive its London premiere in the Purcell Room, South Bank in London.

David has won a place – one of only two composers to achieve this – on the brand new Masters course run by the world-renowned International Ensemble Modern Academy, in Frankfurt. This offers him an unparalleled opportunity to work with some of the finest interpreters of new music in the world today and for his music to reach wider audiences. The experience will have a profound significance on David’s development as an artist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help support David financially for his year’s study in Frankfurt.

Since the Award

David writes that “in terms of my development as an artist one of the biggest advantages of receiving the Dewar Award was the time it allowed me to focus solely on my own work without the commercial pressures and expectations of the ‘concert world’.”

Since returning to Glasgow, David has finished several commissions, completed a residency at the Tokyo Wonder Site, Japan and had his work performed in many venues. He writes that since studying in Frankfurt “my career has entered what I feel is an exciting new stage of development.”

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Thank you very much for your offer. I can't tell you what a big difference this will make to my stay here in Frankfurt in terms of being able to concentrate fully on what I am here to do.

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2006 Awardee: Diana Simpson

I am delighted that the trustees have decided to grant me a most generous award. The award means that I can plan my move to Manchester without worrying that it all might fall through

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.dianasimpson.org.uk
 
 

Biography

Diana Simpson is one of the very few electroacoustic composers supported by a Dewar Arts Award.

For the uninitiated, an electroacoustic composer records sounds and transforms them using computer software to create complex sound environments. A range of resources are used to realise this music, including instruments and voices, improvisation, graphic scoring, live electronic processing on laptop and surround sound.

Hailing from Glasgow, Diana started her studies at the RSAMD, Glasgow graduating with a first in composition and going on to gain a masters with distinction. She shone as one of the best and most original composers her tutor had taught in his ten years at the RSAMD.

Several of Diana’s works have already been performed in public.  For more information and to listen to samples of Diana’s work, see www.dianasimpson.org.uk.

She has won three international prizes, the most recent being the prestigious 33rd Bourges International Competition of Electroacoustic Music, part of the prize includes four weeks in a studio overseas and attendance at the 2007 Bourges festival.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards provided Diana’s PhD fees and essential equipment for her research.

Since the Award

As she works towards completing her PhD in 2009, Diana has had an eventful few years since receiving her Award. Her work has been performed internationally and she has been recognised in a number of prestigious competitions, including second prize in L’Espace du Son Concours de Spatialization Pour L’Interpretation des Ouvres Acousmatiques 2008 and winner of Prix SCRIME 2007. She has also completed composer residencies in North America and Sweden.

Diana takes up a full-time post at Kingston University, London in late 2009 where she plans to pursue her own composition and research as well as encouraging the next generation of young composers.

In April 2009 Diana was announced as the recipient of a Distinguished Achievement Award from the University of Manchester for ‘University Postgraduate Student of the Year’. Congratulations to Diana.

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I am delighted that the trustees have decided to grant me a most generous award. The award means that I can plan my move to Manchester without worrying that it all might fall through

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2006 Awardee: Eilidh Martin

Playing chamber music is what I really want to dedicate my time to and I know that I am very lucky to have the chance to realize this

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Eilidh was born in Dingwall and brought up in Skye. She is a former pupil of St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh, before winning a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music, London where she studied with Margaret Moncrieff and Steven Doane. Doane writes, “Eilidh is one of the most intensely musical young people it has ever been my pleasure to teach. I believe she is one of Scotland’s finest young artists, and will bring great credit to her country.”

Among the several prizes Eilidh won at the RCM was the prestigious graduation prize, ‘Earl of Dalhousie Award’, for outstanding potential.

She then went on to study for a Masters at Eastman School of Music, Rochester, followed by a year in Amsterdam studying with Gregor Horsch, Principal of the Concertgebouw Orchestra.

During her studies, she has been supported by many prestigious awards and scholarships, and in fact would not have been able to take up the opportunities she has had, were it not for this financial support.

Eilidh is part of the young Scottish-based chamber group ‘Ensemble na Mara’ whose debut recital will be in February 2007. Future recitals include several in the Wigmore Hall, London and one at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival for the Royal Overseas League, whose Ensemble prize the group won in 2006. She also is a regular guest player with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Eilidh writes, “I am very keen on the idea of musicians performing in all sorts of situations, whether in the Wigmore Hall or village halls and want to experiment further with innovative programmes including contemporary Scottish composers to attract new audiences.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards helped Eilidh to buy a performance-standard cello.

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Playing chamber music is what I really want to dedicate my time to and I know that I am very lucky to have the chance to realize this

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2006 Awardee: Elysia Leech

I am so lucky to have the internal instrument I have and thank God every day for it!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

When she was at school, Elysia was only ever aware of pop music until one day she heard someone sing opera. She was inspired, and at the age of 16 decided to take up classical singing. Since then, her passion for opera and for becoming a major operatic performer has not wavered.

Born and brought up in Scotland, Elysia has been studying singing at Glasgow’s RSAMD.  After graduation, she intends to proceed to the postgraduate course in performance.

Her tutor considers her to be a singer of major potential who combines a mezzo-soprano voice of rare quality with an innate musicality and sense of drama.

Elysia’s ambition is to become a world class singer and perform in all the major opera houses around the world. Given the right opportunities and vocal education, all the indications are that this is a realistic ambition well within her capabilities and talent.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help finance Elysia as she continues to study opera performance at the highest level at RSAMD.

Since the Award

Unexpectedly during the course, Elysia’s voice type changed from low mezzo to high mezzo/soprano. She studied with renowned opera singer, Jane Irwin.  In 2008 Elysia won the RSAMD’s prestigious Governors’ prize and throughout August 2009, she was guest soloist for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Elysia continues her studies as she gets to grips with new repertoire to suit her new voice type.

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I am so lucky to have the internal instrument I have and thank God every day for it!

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2006 Awardee: Emma Durkan

I have learned a lot from attending the RSAMD - I have developed my own style of playing the fiddle and I also understand the style of traditional Scottish better.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 14
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Emma Durkan, from Saltcoats in Ayrshire, started playing Scottish fiddle in primary 6 and quickly showed natural musical ability and the potential to become a great musician. She has the extremely rare ability to learn a complicated tune by ear one week and accurately replay it the next, without the aid of the written music or a recording.

Emma’s ambition is to become a professional musician. She is a member of the North Ayrshire Fiddle Group and has performed with them in Mallorca, France and Sweden.  In 2007 Emma won the North Ayrshire Musician of the Year (Intermediate Award).

Emma’s talent and potential were being severely hampered by lack of regular tuition locally. In 2006 she successfully auditioned to take part in the RSAMD YouthWorks programme. This opportunity will allow her to be stretched musically and play with other talented young musicians who will inspire and motivate her to develop her potential to the full.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has given crucial financial support allowing Emma to take up the place on the RSAMD Youthworks programme. In the second year of support, Emma was able to study both violin and clàrsach.

Since the Award

Emma writes that “going to the RSAMD every Saturday ..greatly improved my playing and musicianship”. It also helped and taught her about writing her own compositions, which is something she had always wanted to do.

In 2008 Emma competed in the senior category of the North Ayrshire Musician of the Year competition, for the first time, in which she was runner-up. Emma begins her undergraduate studies in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University in 2010.

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I have learned a lot from attending the RSAMD - I have developed my own style of playing the fiddle and I also understand the style of traditional Scottish better.

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2006 Awardee: Erica Eyres

The Dewar Award gave me the financial freedom to concentrate while completing my work for these projects, and allowed me to afford the necessary materials without having to compromise my ideas.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

A senior teacher at the Glasgow School of Art describes Erica as “without doubt one of the best artists I have ever encountered in over twenty years of teaching”.

Originally from Canada, Erica is currently working in Glasgow. Her work explores human failings, aspirations/dreams and eccentricities in ways which are sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes moving and sometimes hilarious. Equally skilled in sculpture, painting, drawing and video, Erica has developed a unique and individual voice in all of these media.

Her work has already found critical acclaim and in 2006 she was nominated for the Beck’s Futures Prize. She is regarded as one of the most promising young artists working at the moment. With her Dewar Award, Erica was able to mount solo exhibitions of her work in London and Glasgow and attend an artist’s residency in Toronto.

These have led to other exciting opportunities, including other group exhibition in London, focussing on portraiture in contemporary art. A video she made in Toronto, and which was received extremely well, is being submitted to film festivals throughout Canada, by a Winnipeg-based organisation.  Erica is now represented in Toronto, China and Japan, where her work can be shown regularly in galleries.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Erica to mount exhibitions of her work in Glasgow and London and attend a residency in Toronto, Canada. She writes, “these exhibitions and the residency are important milestones in my career and they have helped to take my work and reputation as an artist to the next level.”

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The Dewar Award gave me the financial freedom to concentrate while completing my work for these projects, and allowed me to afford the necessary materials without having to compromise my ideas.

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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)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 13
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

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.

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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)

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2006 Awardee: Graeme Brown

Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity - I can now develop my playing and in the long run be better prepared for the profession.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

For the past two years, Graeme, from Windygates in Fife, has been a student on the RSAMD YouthWorks programme and is now studying for a degree in music also at RSAMD, Glasgow.

Thanks to a commitment and discipline rarely seen in an eighteen-year-old, Graeme has made enormous progress in playing the bassoon and he now shows great potential to become a bassoonist of note. One of his recent performances was of a concerto for bassoon and trumpet with John Wallace, principal of RSAMD, on trumpet.

In preparation for his musical studies, Graeme has been raising finances to buy a performance standard bassoon.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped Graeme buy a professional standard bassoon.

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Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity - I can now develop my playing and in the long run be better prepared for the profession.

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2006 Awardee: Hamish Napier

YEEEEE HAAAA! This is something I've been really hoping for for ages!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hamish is a Scottish traditional musician based in Glasgow. He performs with multi-award-winning band Back of the Moon (voted ‘Best Folk Band’ at the 2005 Scots Trad Awards) and with the Hamish Napier Duos.

Also at the 2005 Scots Trad Awards he was nominated for the ‘Best Up and Coming Act’ in the solo category and a year later was a finalist in the Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year Award at Celtic Connections.

Hamish, from Grantown on Spey, started studying piano and flute at the age of 10. He grew up in a family steeped in the traditions of Scottish music and plays whistle, wooden flute and Scottish piano, sings and stepdances (traditional Scottish tapdancing). Several of his family members are also accomplished Scottish Traditional Musicians.

Hamish is increasingly recognized for his whistle and flute playing. He has received tuition from Marc Duff, Iain MacDonald and Niall Keegan and performed with virtuoso flautist Brian Finnegan in the Celtic Connections ‘Master and Apprentice’ concert series.

He also regularly teaches workshops and at festivals to nurture Scottish Traditional musicianship.

How the Award Helped

As a musician at the top of his game, Hamish has to have instruments that match his abilities and talents. The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Hamish to buy a Bb wooden flute.

Since the Award

Since receiving the flute, Hamish has recorded on over a dozen albums with leading musicians and has collaborated with many of the UK’s finest folk musicians on TV and radio. He went on to study jazz at Strathclyde University and in 2011 was offered a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston.

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YEEEEE HAAAA! This is something I've been really hoping for for ages!

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