2006 Awardee: Murdo Macrae

I would like to express how grateful I am to the Dewar Arts Awards. Thank you very much for your generosity, it will be a great help!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 15
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Murdo is currently a pupil at the City of Edinburgh Music School, where he plays clàrsach, piano and pedal harp. He is from the small West Highland village of Nostie in Lochalsh and took up the clàrsach while in primary school in Plockton.  He is a former student of renowned harpist, Savourna Stevenson, and a current pupil of Charlotte Petersen.

Not having a harp of his own made it increasingly difficult for Murdo to practise regularly and make good progress. Despite this, he made an effortless transition from the clàrsach to its larger relative, and in a short space of time Murdo progressed very quickly to achieve outstanding results in his exams. An illustration of his potential and dedication to succeed in a musical career.

Murdo has a passion for his native Scottish culture. He has an outstanding vocal talent, which together with his clàrsach playing have won him 26 gold medals at local and national Mods.

He played at the Skye Festival and the book launch of ‘One City’ and at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival 2006 took part in a public master class with Edward Witsenburg.

Murdo’s ambition is to study pedal harp at music college and develop his interest in composition and orchestration.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards helped Murdo buy a Salvi Aurora pedal harp.

Since the Award

Since getting his new harp, Murdo has had much success in clarsach and harp competitions in the Edinburgh Performance Festival in 2007-08.  He also performed solo harp at the National Showcase of Excellence of the Scottish music schools. In 2009 Murdo plans to go on to study harp at the Guildhall School of Music on a scholarship.

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I would like to express how grateful I am to the Dewar Arts Awards. Thank you very much for your generosity, it will be a great help!

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2006 Awardee: Peter Murch

[Having my own instruments] will make a huge difference to my studies at RSAMD and any future career.

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

Biography

Percussionist Peter Murch comes from a family of strong musicians. Brought up in Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Peter has been part of the RSAMD YouthWorks programme for the past two years and has now embarked on full-time undergraduate study also at RSAMD.

Despite never having owned his own percussion instruments, but having to borrow ones from school, Peter has worked very hard to turn his talent into promise and potential. His percussion tutor on YouthWorks ranks him as one of the most gifted students to have come through the programme.

As well as revelling in one-to-one tuition from percussion legends at the RSAMD, Peter plays in a couple of bands in his spare time, which have treated audiences to performances of musicality and ‘joie de vivre’.

Now that Peter, aged 18, is studying full-time it is essential that he has his own set of percussion instruments.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable him to buy various instruments, such as timpani, drum kit and marimba.

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[Having my own instruments] will make a huge difference to my studies at RSAMD and any future career.

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2006 Awardee: Richard Foley

I would like to thank you for this support.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Richard Foley, 21, is still an undergraduate at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee studying gallery textiles.

Richard, from Broughty Ferry, is working to mount an exhibition for and in the wider Dundee community. The underlying purpose is to promote contemporary art in Dundee and to encourage the ubiquitious ‘man in the street’ to engage with contemporary art. The exhibition will be mounted in one of Dundee unused properties in 2007. Richard will create large textile prints, based on drawings by the community, which will become individual art pieces to be displayed around the space.

Richard is considered to be one of the most individual, creative and committed students. His thought processes are highly creative and unusual and it is no doubt that he will become a creative force in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will fund the preparation and mounting of the exhibition.

Since the Award

Richard writes that the project helped him in a number of ways, not least by giving him ideas about his future career choices. The experience Richard gained by curating the community project inspired him to apply for a work placement at the V&A Fashion, Textile and Furniture Deparment. He went on to volunteer in Iceland’s Living Art Museum, an artist-led organisation.

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I would like to thank you for this support.

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2006 Awardee: Roberta Burn

My harp is so important to me. I spend most of my time when I’m not in school playing it, it’s like a companion

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 11
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Roberta comes from a family of dedicated young musicians who between them play harp, piano, euphonium, Northumbrian smallpipes, piano accordion, trumpet and clarinet. Roberta, the youngest, aspires to become a concert harpist.

Currently, she is a pupil at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh which has overseen the early musical education of many of Scotland’s finest musicians. When she auditioned for St Mary’s she impressed the adjudicators with her sense of poetry and magic, as well as technical ability. Roberta stood out as being one of the most talented harpists of her age.

From Berwick on Tweed, Roberta lives and breathes the harp. Her current teacher has seen her make enormous progress in her musicality and technique, the result of a great deal of time and effort spent in improving her technique.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards helped to buy Roberta a performance standard harp.

Since the Award

Roberta writes that having a new pedal harp has opened up ‘many fantastic opportunities’. Shortly afterwards she passed Grade 7 on pedal harp with distinction, took a master class with internationally-renowned harpist, Isabelle Perrin, and was accepted into the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland. In 2008 Roberta became the Berwick Rotary Classical Musician of the year.

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My harp is so important to me. I spend most of my time when I’m not in school playing it, it’s like a companion

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2006 Awardee: Roisin Hughes

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Roisin Anne Hughes is an extremely talented multi instrumentalist, who can perform to a very high standard on fiddle/violin, flute, whistle, accordion, mandola and mouth organ. She’s also a cracking singer.

Still only 17, Roisin has enjoyed an almost intimidating level of success in championships, including in fiddle, Scottish Champion eight times and British Champion once, and in mouth organ, British Champion seven times. Not surprisingly, Roisin has performed at Celtic Connections, as well as at many other Scottish and Irish traditional music showcases, with one of the bands she regularly plays with, ‘La’.

Roisin’s interest in both Scottish and Irish traditional music stems from her background. Her mother is Irish, and her father’s family have a long tradition with Clyde shipbuilding, near where Roisin was brought up. As well as being an exponent of traditional music, Roisin started playing classical violin at the age of 9. It shows character and talent to master both techniques well, and by fifth year, Roisin became leader of the Glasgow Schools Symphony Orchestra.

For some time, Roisin has wanted to have a performance standard fiddle. She had her eye on a George Duncan fiddle, but had competition from a fiddle collector who spied it for his show cabinet. George Duncan was a Glasgow fiddle-maker who won gold medals for his fiddle-making – he and Roisin have a lot in common.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award provided the money for Roisin to buy the George Duncan fiddle, to release it to be played rather than sit on a shelf and gather dust.

Since the Award

Roisin has had a great deal of success with her new fiddle. In 2007 and 2009 she reached the All-Ireland finals in the Comhaltas competitions. Her band Yuptae has also enjoyed success, playing at the Danny Kyle Open Stage as part of the Celtic Connections and reaching the semi-finals of the Live and Unsigned UK in Newcastle.

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2006 Awardee: Rowan Bell

I am absolutely delighted with your offer... this is more generous than I could ever have hoped for and puts a suitable instrument well within my reach

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Rowan is a natural musician who can communicate with his audience and convey his passion for the music he’s playing, says his violin tutor at the Royal College of Music, London, where he’s an undergraduate.

Rowan, from Peebles, is currently leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and also plays with Camerata Scotland.

In 2005 Rowan won the Kingston-upon-Thames Young Musician of the Year competition as a solo in the concerto class and also as the overall instrumental winner.

He is regularly invited to play solo recitals and to perform with his quartet.

His goal is to become a professional solo performer and for that he needs a good quality violin to match his immense talent and musicality.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards will go towards a performance quality violin for Rowan.

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I am absolutely delighted with your offer... this is more generous than I could ever have hoped for and puts a suitable instrument well within my reach

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2006 Awardee: Ruairidh Stewart

Thank you very much for awarding me the money … I will certainly keep in contact with you on how my creative work is progressing

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Ruairidh, a former pupil of Aberdeen City Music School, started playing drums when he was 12.

His passion and talent for the instrument have helped him excel. In 2006 he achieved Grade 8 drum kit with distinction and gained a place on the degree course at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford.

Ruairidh’s musicianship, great potential and his positive attitude will help him to flourish in such an environment.

Ruairidh, from Newmachar, is also a very thoughtful young man. He needs a drum kit so that he can practise at home, but he recognises that he won’t endear himself to the neighbours if he uses his old acoustic kit. Having a portable, electronic drum kit will be easy to transport and quiet.

But more importantly, he explains, “it will make the task of creating fresh new sounds and music a lot easier as the amount of sounds and effects you can achieve is amazing.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Ruairidh to buy a compact, electronic drum kit (which is also quiet).

Since the Award

Ross writes that being able to buy a Roland TD-12 has had a huge impact on his career. Apart from being able to practice whenever he wants, and without disturbing the neighbours, which has helped him to gain top grades, it has helped in other ways. He has improved his drumming technique and is able to produce drum and bass tracks which he can record onto the drumkit and later edit. All this is helping Ruairidh to achieve his career ambitions in the music industry.

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Thank you very much for awarding me the money … I will certainly keep in contact with you on how my creative work is progressing

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2006 Awardee: Sarah Hutchison

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

Biography

The professor of silversmithing at the Edinburgh College of Art ranks Sarah as “one of the two remarkable fine metalworkers I have encountered during my teaching career.” The other being Andrew Lamb, Dewar Arts Award winner in 2003.

The most remarkable aspect of Sarah’s work is that within a very ancient craft she has found an innovative way of making silversmithing pieces. By breaking historic ‘rules’ she is developing an entirely fresh way of working.
Sarah is also very unusual in that she works comfortably and skillfully in both silversmithing and jewellery. Sarah injects an entirely feminine and decorative aesthetic to functional objects by including stones and pearls within silversmithing pieces.

Already winner of several prestigious awards, including 2004 Student Designer of the Year, Sarah is “an ambitious spirit” who consistently produces exciting, fresh and radical work.

Originally from Port Seton near Edinburgh, Sarah is ready to take her place on the international arena.

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Sarah to design and produce three large-scale objects in silver and gold and support a study visit to Mexico to develop her ideas.

Since the Award

Sarah successfully completed a magnificant candelabra, a pair of water jugs and a milk and sugar set to go with a teapot (see images in her gallery) during her year supported by an Award.  She would not have made the teaset on speculation, yet it beautifully showcases her incredible talent as a silversmith.

Sarah writes, “My Dewar Award came at a great time for me in my career.  I was feeling confident and inspired to make bigger pieces.  I would never have been able to finance myself and I really have learnt a great deal over the past year.”

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2006 Awardee: Sarah Naylor

This financial award is a huge help, I cannot thank you enough

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

Biography

Scottish fiddling is in Sarah’s blood. Her grandmother was taught by renowned Highland fiddler, Donald Riddel, and encouraged Sarah to continue the family tradition. When she was nine, her mother made Sarah her first fiddle out of a man-size Kleenex tissue box.

Born and brought up in Uig on the Isle of Skye, Sarah’s ambition is to preserve the style of tune developed in the 17th Century, typified by the Slow Strathspey, and the West Coast style of fiddling and to bring it to an international audience. In 2005 she performed at the opening of the Chicago Celtic Festival, where she also taught and promoted Scottish music and culture.

Sarah won the 2004 Oban Fiddlers Masters, was runner up in both the 2004 Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship and the 2005 Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year and won the Celtic Connections Danny Award.

She graduated from Strathclyde with a first in Applied Music. Her final solo performance at Strathclyde won her the David Stow Award for excellence in performance and ranks as one of the best in the last 14 years.

Sarah intends to continue developing her career as a soloist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards will go towards a performance quality fiddle for Sarah.

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This financial award is a huge help, I cannot thank you enough

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2006 Awardee: Shona Brown

I accept the Award with gratitude. It will help me greatly in the pursuit of my career

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

Biography

Shona was born and brought up in Motherwell. She graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a first and, in the words of the head of school, as “one of the finest young musicians we have had the pleasure to teach in many years.” Her final recital mark was one of the highest ever achieved at the RNCM.

Shona has gone on to study for a MMus in Music Leadership at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.

At 15, Shona won the North Lanarkshire Musician of the Year competition, and at 18 she won the Regional Finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition.

Shona is considered to be unique in that she puts on recitals that not only cover a wide span of repertoire but also include jazz, also at a high level.

In 2004 she won the Stan Barker Memorial Prize for Jazz Improvisation, in 2006 she won the RNCM Concerto Competition and in the same year collaborated with Barbara Thompson on her new work “Quantum Leaps” for flute and string orchestra.

Shona is clearly a flautist of huge potential, who also enjoys promoting Scottish composers whenever she has the opportunity.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards will contribute towards Shona’s tuition fees at the Guildhall.

Since the Award

Subsequently, Shona switched to pursue a Master of Performance degree. She was particularly inspired by one teacher, Jan Hendrickse, who opened her up to world music and ‘ethnic’ flutes, and also she has been working with renowned composer Barbara Thompson who is writing a flute concerto.

Shona’s ambition now is to write, record and produce her first CD which will be a fusion of all her musical influences and interests. She teaches flute at RSAMD, has set up a community singing groups through her innovative project SoundRoutes and holds the flute chair in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

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I accept the Award with gratitude. It will help me greatly in the pursuit of my career

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