Biography

From Aberdeen, Erin is studying music at the Royal Academy of Music. In 2006, she won a Daughter of Dewar award to buy a performance standard bow for her violin. At the time, her teacher at the Aberdeen City Music School described her as being in ‘league division one’. After finding the bow of her choice, Erin wrote that “playing with a bow of such high standard made such a difference to my sound and confidence.”

Erin began playing the violin at the age of four, playing mainly Scottish fiddle music. By the age of 12 she had won over 200 competitions, including the Scottish championships six times in a row and the National Mod three times in a row. She has appeared on live radio and TV and performed at both parliaments in Westminster and Holyrood. She gave an outstanding performance at First Minister, Alex Salmond’s, Homecoming 2009 event.

Erin has been a member of Scotland’s National Children’s Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra, National Youth String Ensemble and Camerata Scotland. After being invited to play at the prestigious Glenfiddich competition, she decided to concentrate on classical music. She was accepted by all the major UK conservatoires, choosing to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Aberdeen born and bred, Kay moved to Glasgow at 17 to study violin at RSAMD, graduating with a first-class degree in music and the top mark in her year. She moved to Manchester to pursue a master of music at RNCM, where she studies with Pavel Fischer.

At RNCM, Kay has enjoyed many performing opportunities and has led every college ensemble, from the tight-knit ‘new ensemble’ to the symphony orchestra. She led the orchestra in the summer of 2010 residency at the Cantiere festival in Montepulciano. Kay has also performed with some big Scottish names, including Donnie Munro, Capercaillie, and Alasdair McCulloch. She was a member of the True North Orchestra when it opened 2009’s Celtic Connections.

Kay was accepted onto the BBC Philharmonic professional access scheme, with whom she had the thrilling experience of playing works such as Mahler’s Sixth and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. She is also part of a quartet which has enjoyed success, winning the Hirsch quartet prize and performing in the prestigious RNCM chamber festival. Flushed with this success the quartet plans to take part in external music competitions in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the second year costs of the master of music at RNCM.

Since the Award