2011 Awardee: Calum Huggan

I would like to thank you for the generous contribution the Dewar Arts Awards have made to support my further studies.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.calumhuggan.com/
EMAIL:calum_huggan@hotmail.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/calumhuggan

Biography

Raised in Lenzie, Calum began studying music at the RSAMD Junior Academy where he was noticed as someone of talent and innate musicality. He went on to study marimba and percussion at RSAMD from where he graduated with a first-class degree.

During his undergraduate years, he won the Governor’s percussion competition in his second year which resulted in recording a solo in the BBC’s “Classics Unwrapped” series. He also spent a year as guest student at the Mannheim Musikhochschule studying solo and chamber music under the direction of Jasmin Kohlberg and Dennis Kuhn.

Calum regularly participates in international competitions and was the only percussionist to reach the semi-finals of the 2011 Royal Overseas League Competition.

Calum was accepted onto the MMus in solo and chamber music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD). He is aiming to build a solo career as a marimbist/percussionist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award supported Calum in studying his masters course in solo and chamber music.

Since the Award

2012

Calum’s passion and commitment has allowed him to perform solo debuts within the major concert houses across the United Kingdom and Germany. He has performed with orchestras such as BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Scottish Opera and Mannheim National Theatre.  He has recently made his international debut as guest principal with Jyvaskyla Sinfonietta in Finland and has performed for Royalty with Flercussion in Abu Dhabi.

As well as being a first class performer, Calum’s passion lies in cross-arts collaborations and teaching.  He is now an active and sought after percussion tutor and workshop leader throughout the UK, a musical and artistic director for several of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Summer Schools and is an accompanist for contemporary dance and theatre.

Reviews:

Glasgow Concert Hall Concert, Guardian Review July 2012
Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Concert, Times Review June 2012
Glasgow Concert Hall Concert, Guardian Review February 2012
Edinburgh Queen’s Hall Concert, Times Review February 2012

2021

In 2020, Calum signed to award-winning record label, Delphian.  He released his debut album in 2021 – American Music for Marimba.

Calum Huggan talks about studying at the RSAMD

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I would like to thank you for the generous contribution the Dewar Arts Awards have made to support my further studies.

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2011 Awardee: Cheryl McConachie

I can assure you that I will study extremely hard to make the most of this opportunity and cannot thank you enough for this direct contribution to my future

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Born and brought up in Elgin, Cheryl went to school at Elgin Academy where she won the first ‘Star Writer’ award. She went on to do a first degree in English Language and Literature and also gain a Dip HE in Fine Art from the University of the Highlands.

Cheryl’s first love is creative writing and she has aspired to be a writer from a young age. She is now undertaking an MLitt in Creative Writing at St Andrew’s University, where she is considered to be a considerable asset to the writing community.

Her strong, contemporary and richly nuanced voice won her admirers from the outset, and she is thought to have considerable potential as a published writer of the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will support Cheryl through her master’s year on the creative writing course at St Andrew’s University.

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I can assure you that I will study extremely hard to make the most of this opportunity and cannot thank you enough for this direct contribution to my future

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2011 Awardee: Deborah Rudden

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From East Kilbride, Deborah made her solo debut aged 16 singing with the RNSO in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall. Since a young age she has been involved in music, attending Junior RSNO and Junior RSAMD as well as singing in school choirs and NYCoS. It has been her main ambition to become a professional singer for many years.

Deborah is already a soprano of considerable talent and potential and is poised to become an outstanding dramatic soprano, capable of stage and recital performance. She has already performed extensively at the Edinburgh International Festival, singing with world-famous soprano, Judith Howarth, in Dido & Aeneas in the role of First Witch.

More recently she was awarded the Ian Fleming Award by the MBF and was chosen to represent the RSAMD at the Kathleen Ferrier Award for Young Singers.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Deborah to embark on a MMus in Performance in Vocal Studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly, RSAMD).

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2011 Awardee: Hayley Johnson

I would like to thank the Dewar Arts Awards trustees sincerely for helping me

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow-born Hayley is already a seasoned performer. She began dancing at the age of three and by five was winning competition medals and prizes.

By the time she was 10, Hayley became a Junior Associate of the Scottish Ballet, began acting in TV commercials and was a regular on the BBC children’s programme ‘The Saturday Show’.

When she was 11, Hayley auditioned successfully for the Dance School of Scotland and as a pupil there performed in Glasgow’s new Royal Concert Hall and the Theatre Royal.

Unusually for her age, Hayley has been accepted into Bird College, Kent to continue training in dance and theatre performance. She has also been awarded a Dance and Drama Award to cover most of the tuition fees.

At an early age, Hayley had an evident and natural performance quality and excels in both dance and performance. Her teachers anticipate her enjoying great success in her chosen career.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the costs of studying at Bird College.

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I would like to thank the Dewar Arts Awards trustees sincerely for helping me

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2011 Awardee: Isabella Swietlicki

I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards, whose assistance has made it possible for me to work towards achieving my dream.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 14
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/b_swietlicki

Biography

Isabella is a very gifted dancer with a wonderful natural facility for classical dance and a mature technique.

Brought up near Oban since the age of 4, Isabella started dance classes at Ballet West Taynuilt at the age of 8.  During her time there she passed all of her Royal Academy of Dance vocational grades with distinction.  She also performed in their annual touring productions of ‘The Nutcracker’, ‘Coppelia’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’. In 2011, she was part of a seven-week tour of China, performing the role of Clara as well as understudy for the role of Juliet.

In 2009, Isabella attended the International Summer School at the Royal Ballet School in Richmond. In 2010, she won first place for her level at the Royal Academy of Dance Senior Awards in the prestigious Genee Challenge in Edinburgh.

Isabella has attended a masterclass with Francesca Zumbo of the Paris Opera Ballet, who danced with Rudolf Nureyev when she was young.  She has also had the opportunity to work with and learn from her favourite dancer, Tamara Rojo; Royal Ballet Principal at the Royal Ballet Upper School in Covent Garden.

How the Award Helped

Isabella received a Dewar Arts Awards in 2011 to help her continue her dance studies at Ballet West. She has since received additional awards to support her flourishing talent.

Since the Award

In 2012 Isabella won the Molly Lake Award; a biennial ballet competition for young dancers.  She went on to gain a place at the English National Ballet School, and was granted additional funding from the Dewar Awards to continue her studies there.

Isabella is proving herself to be a dedicated, talented, and a quite exceptional dancer.

2014: Isabella writes “I am loving every moment of my studies at ENBS, and I feel a big difference in my dancing after just one term.  The academic aspect is thorough and rigorous – I thought I knew a lot about ballet until I started this course!  Most weeks, I am able to watch the dress rehearsals of performances by companies such as English National Ballet, Royal Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet.  My ambition is to be a professional ballet dancer, and I believe that I am in an ideal environment in which to train towards my goal.  I love my school, and I know that the staff will constantly challenge me and prepare me as well as is possible for a career in ballet.”

Sept 2014: Bronze Medallist at Genée International Ballet Competition

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I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards, whose assistance has made it possible for me to work towards achieving my dream.

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2011 Awardee: Jennifer MacCallum

I am hugely grateful to the trust for this award in enabling me to progress with my studies in my chosen field.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born in Alexandra and brought up on the West Coast around Oban and Fort William, Jennifer was a keen musician from an early age. Her High School quartet won its category in the National Chamber Music Competition for 3 consecutive years. She went on to study music at the RWCMD in Cardiff where she was considered to be an extremely gifted musician who stood out from her peers.

During her undergraduate years, Jennifer held placements with the Welsh National Opera for a year and with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for two years.

In both 2009 and 2010, she won the Steinitz Bach Prize and on graduation was awarded both the Peter Esswood Prize for Strings and the Gabb & Co Prize for Chamber Music.

Jennifer is passionate about orchestral playing and has won a place on the Master of Performance in Orchestral Performance programme at the Royal College of Music in London, where she will be a pupil of Simon Rowland-Jones, one of the highest-regarded viola teachers of this generation.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will support Jennifer in the first year of her postgraduate studies.

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I am hugely grateful to the trust for this award in enabling me to progress with my studies in my chosen field.

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2011 Awardee: Jordan Blackwood

I would like to send a deep thank you to the trustees...your support is deeply valued and I cannot thank you enough for it.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Renfrewshire born and bred Jordan was a pupil at Johnstone High School. At an early age he joined the Paisley-based PACE Youth Theatre, where for many years he was an enthusiastic member, rising through the ranks to become a Drama Worker during his Gap year. During that time he also trained in acting and voice at the Spires Theatre School, the training wing of PACE Youth Theatre. It was here that he was introduced to theatre directing.

Over the years, Jordan has developed a broad knowledge of theatre and arts and is considered to be a young Scottish theatre director of great potential. As well as directing the classics, he has written and produced much of his own work.

Jordan is considered both talented and creatively inspiring and has strong foundations to become an exciting theatre director and practitioner. He will add an exciting new voice to Scottish theatre.

Jordan has been accepted to study theatre practice: performance arts at Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He writes that he is “very passionate ….about the theatre/arts [and] ..very excited about beginning my studies at one of the best drama schools in the UK.” His aim is to become a theatre director of note.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help with the first year of his studies at CSSD.

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I would like to send a deep thank you to the trustees...your support is deeply valued and I cannot thank you enough for it.

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2011 Awardee: Natalie Montakhab

I am extremely grateful for your support. Without your careful consideration and assistance I would not be able to fully pursue my career in the Arts and I thank you once again for your generosity.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.nataliemontakhab.com/
EMAIL:natalie@nataliemontakhab.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/NatalieSoprano

Biography

In 2001, Lancashire-born Natalie came to Glasgow to study singing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly: RSAMD). After a spell at the Royal Academy of Music from 2007-2009 to continue postgraduate study in singing, and for which she was supported by a Dewar Arts Award, Natalie returned to Glasgow to undertake a MMus (Opera) at the Opera School. During that time she received glowing reviews for her accomplished performances in fully-staged RSAMD productions.

Natalie began singing in a school choir after being turned down by the coach of the school netball team. Fortunately, her talent was soon spotted and encouraged.

Throughout her career she has won scholarships, competitions and awards to support her studies.  Her opera debut was at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival in Purcell’s ‘Dido and Aeneas’ under Nicolas McGegan.

Natalie has been invited to join the newly-formed Welsh International Academy of Voice to prepare for her launch into a professional career in opera, where she will study with Dame Kiri te Kanawa and Renee Fleming, amongst other luminaries from the world of opera.

Natalie is considered to have a beautiful and individual vocal timbre. She is an accomplished musician and a sensitive and compelling performer on the concert platform as well as the opera stage who has developed into an extremely fine artist and singer.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Natalie financially at the WIAV during this final stage of her vocal studies.

Opera Squad 2012 from English National Opera on Vimeo.

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I am extremely grateful for your support. Without your careful consideration and assistance I would not be able to fully pursue my career in the Arts and I thank you once again for your generosity.

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2011 Awardee: Kirsty Hendry

I would be delighted to accept your offer of an award. My sincere thanks to trustees for their generous support.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From Scone in Perthshire, Kirsty graduated from art college in Aberdeen with a first-class degree in printmaking. As a second-year student she was nominated for The Cross Trust Study Vacation Award which enabled her to attend a papermaking course in Takashima, Japan. In her third year she was selected to take part in the Peacock Visual Arts Internship Programme where she worked with and assisted the master printers. At that time she stood out as more focussed and talented than her peers.

Her final degree was visually brilliant and critically engaging and Kirsty is considered to have the potential to become a leader in the field of print-making in the future. After graduation, she won a coveted place at the RCA to study for a Master of Printmaking. She went to the RCA with the clear objective to push her work in a new a challenging direction. This has been realised as she saw her work going in new, exciting and previously unexplored territories.

Kirsty feels that printmaking is an art form which is becoming increasingly marginalised and her ambition is to return to Scotland and invest her printmaking skills into the Scottish art scene. Changes in her family circumstances threatened to put a halt to Kirsty’s exciting career.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Kirsty to complete her MA in Printmaking.

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I would be delighted to accept your offer of an award. My sincere thanks to trustees for their generous support.

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2011 Awardee: Philip Todd

Please accept my heartfelt thanks to the trustees …for this generous award and the opportunity it provides for my further development.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.philip-todd.com/
EMAIL:info@philip-todd.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/phil_todd

Biography

Born in Fife and brought up in Caithness, Philip graduated from RSAMD with a degree in digital film and television and the Paul Kelly Memorial Award. Philip possesses a wide range of talents and skills and is ‘something of a Renaissance man’ according to one of his former tutors, in that he sings, plays a musical instrument, dances, acts, aspires to direct films and speaks Gaelic.

While a student film-maker at RSAMD he was able to take part in drama workshops led by many well-known actors and directors, including Sir Richard Attenborough and James McAvoy.

As part of his degree Philip worked with actors on many film scenes as well as directing scenes in workshop. As a student film maker he has studied acting for screen techniques and while at RSAMD, wrote, directed and appeared in a number of personally-initiated projects, some of which were in the Gaelic language. Philip’s ultimate ambition is to combine acting for screen with film directing. He was accepted by Central School of Speech and Drama, London to study acting for screen.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped fund Philip through an MA in Acting for Screen at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London.

Philip Todd Actor Showreel from Philip Todd on Vimeo.

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Please accept my heartfelt thanks to the trustees …for this generous award and the opportunity it provides for my further development.

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