2015 Awardee: Christopher Roberts

"I can't thank Dewar Arts Awards enough for the assistance, I feel it came at the most crucial of times in my early career."

Biography

Born in Edinburgh, trumpeter and vocalist Christopher Roberts showed prodigious talent from a very young age, quickly developing a full register, flexibility and clear articulation.  He began playing the trumpet from the age of 7, and from the age of 15 held the position of Principal trumpet in the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra.

In 2007, Christopher accepted a full scholarship place at St. Mary’s Music School where he studied with Bede Williams and John Kenny. During this time, he performed regularly, gaining professional experience with orchestras and ensembles in the UK and abroad. In 2014 he was a member of the KLANGSPUREN International Ensemble Modern Akademie where he studied with Sava Stoianov, and he has also studied with John Wallace, Tom Poulson and Mark O’Keeffe.

Making his concerto debut at the age of 15, Christopher has subsequently appeared as a soloist throughout the United Kingdom playing with the Milne-Graden Chamber Orchestra, Heisenberg Ensemble and with the world renowned Choristers of St. Mary’s Cathedral.

As a founding member of Carnyx Youth Brass, Christopher has been involved in many projects for ensemble, premiering new works for brass and featuring as the principal trumpet on the CD ‘Storm Chaser’. Christopher has been a major prize winner at festivals in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

While a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Christopher was conductor in residence with Brass Sounds Inverclyde. During this time, he proudly represented Scotland with SCOKENDIA, featuring as part of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. He has taken part in numerous impressive masterclasses, as well as studying with Professor Urban Agnas and Professor Friedemann Immer at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, Köln.

How the Award Helped

Christopher received an award to help him to continue to flourish in his bachelor degree studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, Köln.

"I can't thank Dewar Arts Awards enough for the assistance, I feel it came at the most crucial of times in my early career."

2015 Awardee: Tamara Hardy

"It’s truly amazing to have come so far, and I would like to thank the Dewar Arts Awards for helping me to go even further."

Biography

An intelligent and thoughtful musician, Tamara Hardy (Tam) is a double bass player described by her tutor as ‘one of the most proactive, innovative and original thinking students I have ever come across’.

Born and raised in the Highlands, Tam started playing double bass in primary school, when she was just 11. Less than a year later she was accepted into the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra, and by the age of 15, her passion for the instrument led her to audition for the Junior Academy at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She successfully gained a place and studied there for three years.

In 2011, Tam began the undergraduate programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Her four years in Glasgow offered Tam many opportunities including lessons and masterclasses with world renowned players.  She participated in apprenticeship schemes and collaborations with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Opera.

Tam graduated with a Bachelor of Music with Honours , and was awarded 1st prize in the John McInulty Prizes for Orchestral String Playing.

How the Award Helped

In 2015, Tam went on to gain a place on the Masters of Music course at the Royal Academy of Music. Her Dewar Arts Award enabled her to accept her place, and to fully benefit from the opportunity to realise her potential.

"It’s truly amazing to have come so far, and I would like to thank the Dewar Arts Awards for helping me to go even further."

2015 Awardee: Kieran Lambie

This award benefits me because it will allow me to continue gaining experience as an instrumental teacher...and will help me further enhance my performing experience.

Biography

Kieran Lambie is an outstanding classical musician, whose ambition is to play and teach clarinet professionally. His memorable solo performances of a demanding repertoire have garnered acclaim, and his passion for teaching is matched by his focus and determination.

Kieran is patient, diligent, and ambitious.  He has played in numerous musical ensembles, gained a distinction in his Grade 8 musical examinations and achieved a BA in Music Performance with a Distinction from Edinburgh College.

He intends to develop his practice through teaching and performing a range of styles of music, and has a promising future as a professional musician.

How the Award Helped

Kieran’s award enabled him to continue his professional development, through instrumental lessons and by undertaking two Trinity College qualifications: an ATCL in Instrumental Teaching and an LTCL in Performance.

This award benefits me because it will allow me to continue gaining experience as an instrumental teacher...and will help me further enhance my performing experience.

2015 Awardee: David Linklater

The Dewar Award has granted me the time and space to focus solely on my writing, for this I'm very grateful.

Biography

Hailing from Inverness, David is a writer of determination and distinction.

Moving from the Highlands to Glasgow in 2012, David applied for the HNC Professional Writing Skills course at City of Glasgow College.  Despite his lack of prerequisite qualifications, David’s impressive portfolio earned him a place on the course.

Having already self-published two books of poetry, David completed a third during his time on the course. He also performed a daring and spontaneous piece at the Creative & Cultural Skills Scotland annual conference, and won the class prize – awarded annually to the most outstanding student.

David went on to take an HNC Practical Journalism course in 2014 and was equally successful, contributing several pieces to publications and impressing with his versatility. In the meantime he continued to develop his career as a writer of prose and poetry, and was published in several respected poetry outlets.

David is an extremely capable journalist and an excellent prose writer, but it is his poetry that stands out. He creates work that rises above his peers and demands to be noticed.  In 2015, his prodigious talent was recognised by the University of Glasgow, who offered him an unconditional place on their illustrious M.Lit course, even without a degree level qualification.

David’s work has been published in Glasgow Review of Books, The Grind, ODOU, The High Flight and The Speculative Bookshop, amongst others. In 2016 he was shortlisted for a Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Award. 

“His poetry is sometimes rustic but never twee, youthful and contemporary without being naïve or following trends, and most of all extremely evocative.” John Clarke, Lecturer, City of Glasgow College.

How the Award Helped

David’s Dewar Arts Award supported him in his masters studies at the University of Glasgow, enabling him to progress his formal qualifications to postgraduate level.

The Dewar Award has granted me the time and space to focus solely on my writing, for this I'm very grateful.

2015 Awardee: Ryan Hunter

The Award has liberated me and allowed me to study at the most prestigious drama school in the world. Thank you.

Biography

Growing up on the Southside of Glasgow, Ryan Hunter is the youngest of five siblings, and the first to become an actor rather than a musician.

Ryan took music lessons at St Roch’s Secondary School in Royston, where he played the fiddle, drums and bodhran.  He performed across Scotland, England and Ireland with the school’s Ceili band, before taking to the stage with the PACE Youth Theatre in Paisley. From there he was accepted into the Musical Theatre Course at the Dance School of Scotland in Knightswood.

During his time at Knightswood, Ryan performed at the Citizens Theatre to much acclaim.  In his second year he gained a role in the comedic film ‘What We Did On Our Holiday’, acting alongside David Tennant, Rosamund Pike and Billy Connolly.

On completion of the course, Ryan stayed in Glasgow and busked beside the Donald Dewar statue on Sauchiehall Street while auditioning for roles.  He gained a place in a touring production with Hopscotch Theatre Company, which he completed whilse auditioning for drama schools.

After a gruelling four-round audition process for RADA, Ryan was one of just 28 students out of 4,000 applicants who gained a coveted place.  This offered an exceptional opportunity to study his craft at a most prestigious school.

Intelligent and well read, Ryan takes a serious and committed interest in his work as an actor. He has charisma on stage and screen, and looks set to be an excellent ambassador for Scottish arts in his future career.

How the Award Helped

Ryan’s Award enabled him to accept his hard-won place to study at RADA.

The Award has liberated me and allowed me to study at the most prestigious drama school in the world. Thank you.