2010 Awardee: Lynda-Jane Workman

[Being able to concentrate solely on my studies] will allow me to participate in opera productions, work with professional singers and accompanists in masterclasses and concentrate on my language skills.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born and raised in Northern Ireland, mezzo-soprano Lynda-Jane has been studying opera at Glasgow’s RSAMD for the past five years under Kathleen McKellar-Ferguson.

Before coming to Scotland Lynda-Jane sang with the Ulster Youth Choir at Proms in the Park and took part in their Ireland and France Tours. She has sung in a number of RSAMD’s opera productions and also in the opening concert of the 2008 Edinburgh International Festival as one of the ‘Ladies of Mahagonny’ from Kurt Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.

In 2006, she represented the RSAMD at the Junior Kathleen Ferrier Awards. She has sung in masterclasses with Malcolm Martineau and Patricia McMahon and was a finalist in the Frank Spedding Lieder prize and the 2009 RSAMD Governor’s Prize for Voice.

Lynda-Jane is a founder member of Dieci – an a cappella group she established with some friends at the RSAMD in 2006. Dieci were recently grand finalists in the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition. The group are on the point of releasing their second CD and tour regularly throughout the UK.

Lynda-Jane is considered to exude star quality and, according to her mentors, her voice has developed wonderfully and her ability to tackle major vocal challenges is inspirational.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Lynda-Jane to pursue a Master of Music (Performance) degree at RSAMD.

After a successful first year, Lynda-Jane’s award was extended for a second and final year towards a Master of Music in Voice Performance.

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[Being able to concentrate solely on my studies] will allow me to participate in opera productions, work with professional singers and accompanists in masterclasses and concentrate on my language skills.

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2010 Awardee: Alex Boyd

I appreciate the opportunity that I have been given to complete my project ‘Sonnets from Scotland’, and I look forward to sharing my progress with…the trustees in the coming months.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.alexboyd.co.uk/
 
 

Biography

Born in Germany and now resident in Ayrshire, Alex began his ‘Sonnets of Scotland’ project in 2007. A History of Art graduate from the University of Glasgow, Alex describes his project as a “photographic journey around the coasts and countryside of Scotland” to document the historically significant open spaces and question traditional assumptions and romantic depictions of the landscape. A lone figure appears in each photograph, referencing romantic artists such as Caspar David Friedrich, John Knox and the early work of Hamish Macmillan.

Alex has already exhibited his work in the US, across Scotland, in London and on mainland Europe in over 20 solo and group shows. He was short-listed for a BBC photography award in 2005 and was a finalist in the EU ‘Imagine’ Photographer of the Year Award in 2009.

He took part in Anthony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth project, collaborating with Scottish poet, Edwin Morgan. They presented a unique combination of photography by Boyd and poetry reading by Morgan.

In 2008, Alex exhibited images from the ‘Sonnets from Scotland’ series projected onto Europe’s largest building, the Palace of the Parliament in Romania. He is currently creating new work to be exhibited as large projections in Battersea Power Station in the summer of 2010. For more information about Alex’s work, see www.alexboyd.co.uk

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Alex to finish his ‘Sonnets of Scotland’ project.

Since the Award

Alex has shown some of his ‘Sonnets’ at arts festivals across Europe and was also  finalist in the prestigious Photographic Award Genius Loci, Spirit of Place and Cultural Diversity. He has been offered residencies in Tuscany and Ireland, a PhD place at a top Scottish University and has been teaching at GSA. Alex writes, “my journey in photography has been greatly enhanced through the help of the Dewar Award and [I have been given] opportunities that would not have been possible without [this] help and kind support….for that I am very grateful indeed.”

The Sonnets from Scotland – a short film shot on location in Skye, Glencoe and the Scottish Highlands.

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I appreciate the opportunity that I have been given to complete my project ‘Sonnets from Scotland’, and I look forward to sharing my progress with…the trustees in the coming months.

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2010 Awardee: Emily Hoile

Thank you so much for the offer of a Dewar Arts Award. I would be delighted to accept it in order to help fund my studies in New York.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.myspace.com/emilyhoile
 
 

Biography

Newcastle-born Emily studied harp first with Isobel Meiras at the City of Edinburgh Music School and later continued studying pedal harp and clàrsach with Catriona Mackay at St Mary’s Music School, also in Edinburgh, where she was considered to be one of their most outstanding instrumentalists.

Emily distinguished herself on many occasions as a concerto soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player and has won many prestigious prizes, including the Audrey Innes Concerto Prize 2009, the Traves Trophy in 2010 at the Edinburgh Festival Competition, the Mozart Concerto Competition and the Director’s Recital Prize at St Mary’s Music School.   In 2005, at the age of 13, she was awarded a Dewar Arts Award to buy a pedal harp.

Emily has been a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and, since September 2009, has been principal harp in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Emily is also an accomplished clàrsach player and is a member of the Sage Gateshead Folkestra and the Celtic fusion group Kilairum. She has been a finalist in the BBC Radio Two Young Folk Awards and a semi-finalist in the Young Traditional Musician competition. With Kilairum, she won a place in the Danny Kyle Open Stage at the 2010 Celtic Connections Festival.

Emily has won a scholarship to study harp with renowned harpist Nancy Allen at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. She describes this as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enables Emily to study music at Juilliard School of Music, New York.

After a very successful first year at Juilliard, Emily’s award was extended for a second year.

Emily Hoile & Alice Burn @ NFFF 2011

Emily & Sam Hoile filmed by Michael Boyers in Northumberland Street

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Thank you so much for the offer of a Dewar Arts Award. I would be delighted to accept it in order to help fund my studies in New York.

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2010 Awardee: John Ross

Thank you for the amazing news! I am completely in shock that I have been given this opportunity and would love to accept it.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.johnrossdance.wordpress.com/
 
 

Biography

Dundee-born John developed his interest in dance through his involvement in drama at The Space in Dundee (where he was known as ‘John Henney’). When he was 18, John went on to study dance full-time at the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance also based at The Space. He then auditioned for, and won, a place at the renowned London Contemporary Dance School. He was accepted straight into the second year of their degree course which is only offered to exceptionally talented dancers.

John is already considered to be a dancer of enormous talent and ability.

Studying at the leading contemporary dance conservatoire in the UK, offers him the opportunity to work with some of the world’s top choreographers and teachers in contemporary dance. His former mentors believe that he has the potential to make a significant contribution to the dance world.

John’s ambition is to set up his own dance company.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help with the substantial costs of studying in London.

Since the Award

Review of Man Down

Ideas Tap Interview

‘Man Down’ Dance Piece

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Thank you for the amazing news! I am completely in shock that I have been given this opportunity and would love to accept it.

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2010 Awardee: Chloe Gough

The impact this award will have on my ability to study in Boston is phenomenal, thank you so much.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Duncanstone, a small village outside Insch in Aberdeenshire, Chloe graduated from the University of Dundee with a degree in fine art and philosophy.

Chloe’s work has been described as delicate, poetic and quietly engaging. One of the top students in her year, Chloe was selected to exhibit in the competitive and prestigious RSA New Contemporary exhibition in 2010. Following the exhibition, she was awarded the David and June Gordon Memorial Trust prize and the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh Purchase prize. Considered to be a hugely talented and original painter, she has exhibited in a number of high-profile galleries.

Chloe moves to Boston for a year to participate in an intensive year of studio art study and practice.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has enabled Chloe to pursue postgraduate studies in visual art at the School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Since the Award

A day that Chloe will remember for the rest of her life is being invited, as part of the community of artists at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, to spend a day life drawing from the Boston Ballet Company during rehearsal. Moreover, she enjoyed access to the archives of the Boston Museum of Fine Art and through that link was invited to be a guest lecturer at a first-year undergraduate class at the Boston College of Art and Design. Chloe writes that she returned to Scotland ‘with a wonderful and newly invigorated work ethic and absolute dedication to my practice.’

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The impact this award will have on my ability to study in Boston is phenomenal, thank you so much.

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2010 Awardee: Andrew Cumming

I have aspired to be a film-maker since I was seventeen years old, and with the excellent support from the School and now your generous contribution to my education I feel better prepared than ever to achieve my goal.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 28
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Brought up in Leven, Fife, Andrew Cumming has wanted to make films since he was a teenager. In 2003, he graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art with a first-class degree. Since then he has self-funded the making of a series of short films. In 2006 he set up a media production company to make promotional films for local and national clients.

His true passion lies with narrative fiction and his own shorts, often made for less than £400, have been nominated for, and won, several awards in Edinburgh, London, Wales and Poland. In 2010 Creative Scotland described him as a “young talent to watch”.

Andrew’s ultimate ambition is to make his first feature film in his native Scotland.

Andrew was offered one of the eight places at NFTS to study directing fiction, fighting off competition from just under 400 aspiring young film directors from all over the world.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Andrew study for an MA in Directing Fiction at the prestigious NFTS.

After a successful first year, Andrew’s support has been continued into the second year.

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I have aspired to be a film-maker since I was seventeen years old, and with the excellent support from the School and now your generous contribution to my education I feel better prepared than ever to achieve my goal.

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2010 Awardee: Asif Ali

This is more than I could have expected and more than I anticipated and I am thankful and grateful for all your assistance that I have received towards me achieving my goals.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born in Halifax and brought up in Paisley from the age of ten, Asif was selected to participate in the national Second Light Initiative, a film production-based training scheme for young people from diverse backgrounds, where his talent and creative eye stood out.

As a result of this participation, Asif subsequently worked on the BBC’s How Not to Live Your Life, Shed Media’s innovative online drama Being Victor (subsequently picked up by STV) and was location marshall for the up-coming comedy Captain America. His adaptation of Edwin Morgan’s poem In the Snack Bar will be premiered at the 2011 Glasgow Film Festival.

Asif is conscious of being the first Scottish Asian to be accepted by the prestigious NFTS in London. One of his long-term ambitions is to encourage more British young people from ethnic backgrounds to enter the film industry. He is to date the most successful apprentice on Second Light Initiative and his mentors point to his passion, talent and commitment as the reasons for his success in beating off the considerable competition.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Asif to pursue an MA in Film Production at NFTS.

After a successful first year, Asif’s support has been continued into the second year.

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This is more than I could have expected and more than I anticipated and I am thankful and grateful for all your assistance that I have received towards me achieving my goals.

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2010 Awardee: Louise Alder

Thank you so much for considering me, I cannot tell you what a difference this will make to my life next year. To be supported by such a prestigious trust is an honour.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

London-born Louise Alder studied music at the University of Edinburgh and is considered to be one of the very best singers the Music Department have had in recent years. While at Edinburgh University, Louise won two prestigious singing competitions, the Edinburgh University Concerto Competition 2009 and the 2010 Margaret Fletcher Lieder Prize.

Louise is considered to be an outstanding talent with international potential of the highest quality. She has given memorable performances while still a student at Edinburgh, including Creation at the St Magnus Festival, Orkney, Bach Magnificat in St Giles’ Cathedral and Carmina Burana in St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. Her performance of Vixen in ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ won great critical acclaim.

In the summer of 2010, she will be understudying the role of Euridice in Peri’s ‘Euridice’ with the British Youth Opera and will perform the role of Musetta in the OperaUpClose production of ‘La Bohème’. She is a Britten Pears Young Artist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Louise to pursue a Master of Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music in London. After an excellent first year, Louise’s funding was extended for a second and final year.

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Thank you so much for considering me, I cannot tell you what a difference this will make to my life next year. To be supported by such a prestigious trust is an honour.

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2010 Awardee: Lewis Anderson

I would like to express my gratitude to the trustees of the Dewar Arts Awards for considering me. This award will make my time in London much more productive and rewarding.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Paisley-born Lewis gained a place at the Douglas Academy Music School after showing exceptional promise in his early years at primary school. There he was taught by Jo Pacewicz, clarinettist with the RSNO. In Primary 7 he entered the RSAMD Junior programme. In 2009, Lewis sat Advanced Higher Music and received the highest marks in Scotland.

In 2010, Lewis performed with NYOS, conducted by Diego Masson, and as part of a trio won the Aillie Cullen Memorial Prize at the Glasgow Music Festival for the best performance of the festival. He has also been playing principal clarinet in the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra where he had the opportunity to conduct the orchestra, under the watchful eye of James Lowe.

Lewis is considered to be one of the most exciting woodwind instrumentalists in Scotland of his generation of young musicians, showing exceptional musical intelligence and originality in his playing. When Lewis was offered a place to study music at the Royal College of Music, he writes that “to be offered a place … was beyond anything I ever imagined I would achieve, and my perspective shifted at that point to not just trying my best but actually being the best I could be.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help him financially as he starts his undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London.

After a very successful first year at the Royal College of Music, the trustees were pleased to extend their support of Lewis into his second year.

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I would like to express my gratitude to the trustees of the Dewar Arts Awards for considering me. This award will make my time in London much more productive and rewarding.

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2010 Awardee: Michael Clark

I would like to express thanks for the opportunity [you] have given me: [the support] will enable me to focus more on my studies rather than working to support my living costs.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow born and raised, Michael has performed with a variety of orchestras, including the BBC Merchant Sinfonia, NYOS, the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland and Strathclyde University Orchestra. He studied with Heather Corbett under the Continuing Education Course at RSAMD.

Before leaving Springburn Academy in 2009, Michael completed the Associated Board exams achieving grade 8 with distinction in percussion, grade 4 in guitar and grade 7 with merit in piano. He was successful in gaining a place at the Royal Northern College of Music to study for a degree in music.

Michael’s goal is to become a professional musician.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Award will help towards the tuition, maintenance and other costs while he’s studying at RNCM.

After a successful first year at the Royal Northern College of Music, the trustees were pleased to extend their support of Michael into his second year.

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I would like to express thanks for the opportunity [you] have given me: [the support] will enable me to focus more on my studies rather than working to support my living costs.

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