2014 Awardee: Chloe McClean

My passion for highland dance is not only with the actual performance but also in its rich history. When I look into my future I cannot imagine a life without dance.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 14
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Edinburgh, Chloe is an ambitious and dedicated highland dancer.  Her exceptional talent and natural ability has earned her many championship titles including United Kingdom Champion (two years running), East of Scotland Champion (three times), West of Scotland Champion, North of Scotland Champion and All England Champion.  In 2013, she was the only Scottish dancer from her age division to qualify for the Word Highland Dancing Championships, putting her in the top 20 dancers aged under 16 in the world.

Chloe has a passion for the origins of highland dance, and the associated legends and stories. She hopes to one day establish her own dance school and instill the passion and pride she has for the heritage of highland dance in future generations of dancers.

How the Award Helped

Chloe’s award enabled her to continue training and competing in traditional Scottish dance.

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My passion for highland dance is not only with the actual performance but also in its rich history. When I look into my future I cannot imagine a life without dance.

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2014 Awardee: Peter Keenan

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.peterkeenan.co.uk/
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/peter_keenan

Biography

Having lived in Scotland since he was two years old, Peter studied composition at St Mary’s Music School before reading music at the University of York, It was during his time at York that he had his first conducting opportunities. In his final year, Peter was Music Director of the University of York Opera Society, with whom he conducted a staged production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

Peter has studied with William Conway and Garry Walker, and has attended courses with Peter Stark. In recent years he has focused his conducting activities towards opera, and has acted as Assistant Music Director to William Conway with Edinburgh Studio Opera. He has worked on Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (2014) and The Magic Flute (2015), and looks forward to returning for Bizet’s Carmen in 2016.

In 2014 Peter founded Opera dei Lumi, who gave their company debut with Mozart’s Così fan tutte to great acclaim. They have since received commendation for concert performances of Le Nozze di Figaro in Berwick Festival Opera and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

How the Award Helped

Peter’s Dewar Award enabled him to explore his fascination with Mozart’s operas, by undertaking a research degree at the University of Glasgow.

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2014 Awardee: Rory Alexander Stewart

The Dewar Arts Award has given me the chance to pursue my passion of directing film and TV at one of the best institutions in the world, allowing me the chance to work with great new talent in all roles of filmmaking as well as to develop my own talent further.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://rorystewartfilms.co.uk/
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/roryastewart

Biography

Rory Alexander Stewart is an award-winning writer and film director. Born and raised in Scotland, his visual flair, calm and focused approach, and passion for storytelling allow him to excel in his chosen field.

In 2013 Rory won a BAFTA New Talent Writer Award for ‘Liar’; a film developed with Rankin Film Productions and The
Bureau’s Collabor8te scheme. In 2014 he was awarded the doc prizes at the Smalls Film Festival and London Short Film Festival for ‘The Port’. The same year saw him premiere his film ‘WYLD’ at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, as well as delivering nineteen shorts in collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland and winning The Skinny/Innis & Gunn Short Film Competition for his no-budget short ‘Good Girl’.

In 2015 he completed ‘Misery Guts’, a short improvised comedy, which was nominated for the Channel 4 Award for Innovation in Storytelling. He then gained a place to study on a Directing Fiction course at the prestigious National Film and Television School, offering the perfect opportunity to progress his career on a full-time basis.

How the Award Helped

Rory’s Dewar Arts Award supported his studies at the National Film and Television School, enabling him to fully develop his burgeoning career.

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The Dewar Arts Award has given me the chance to pursue my passion of directing film and TV at one of the best institutions in the world, allowing me the chance to work with great new talent in all roles of filmmaking as well as to develop my own talent further.

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