2018 Awardee: Lewis Blackwood

"I’m so grateful to have been given back the opportunity to be taught by the best Scotland has to offer. My dream of being a professional percussionist can live on."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 14
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://drumkitlessonsfalkirk.co.uk/Lewis-Blackwood-Percussion/
 
 

Biography

Lewis has been playing percussion since the age of 3, and by 14 had reached the standard associated with studying at degree level. He is also a talented trumpet player and pianist.

Having been given a drum kit at Christmas, Lewis began dedicating all his time to improving his skills, including busking in Glasgow with his brothers. The family ended up on Real Radio and STV.  Lewis’ passion for percussion continued when he auditioned for The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at the age of 7.  At that stage he played drum kit, snare drum and a set of timpani drums (which he bought with the proceeds of his busking).  He was awarded a place in the pre-junior department and was taught there by Lachie Birch, who also introduced Lewis to the marimba.  This has become his favourite instrument.

Lewis is severely dyslexic, which he feels benefits his music due to the right side of his brain being especially strong. As well as gaining a place at RCS, Lewis was accepted into the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland every year since the age of 9, progressing from the junior to senior orchestras. He has performed in a jazz collective, RCS orchestra, NYOS orchestra, percussion ensemble and RCS choir along with perfoming in stage shows and with ceilidh bands.

Lewis has competed internationally in the Young International Tuned Percussion Competition at the Purcell School of Music.  In 2017 he was awarded the St Cecilia trophy at Larbert High School. He has ambitions to enter the BBC Young Musician of the Year, the Rotary Young Musician Competition and the Colin Curry Competition at RCS. He also hopes to attend a percussion summer school in Germany, run by a virtuoso percussionist.

In the future, Lewis intends to apply to RCS and further afield; to the Royal Academy of Music in London and Julliard in New York.  His plan is to be a solo percussionist like Evelyn Glennie, playing in an orchestra and teaching.

How the Award Helped

Lewis’ Award enabled him to continue his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

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"I’m so grateful to have been given back the opportunity to be taught by the best Scotland has to offer. My dream of being a professional percussionist can live on."

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2018 Awardee: Rennie Sutherland

"I cannot thank Dewar Arts Awards enough for enabling me to begin my studies at the Royal College of Music. It is an opportunity few are fortunate to get and so I look forward to making the most of it. Thank you!"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Scottish clarinettist Rennie Sutherland auditioned and joined the Music School of Douglas Academy in Glasgow in 2011. Throughout his time there and with the support from teachers Josef Pacewicz and Lawrence Gill, Rennie grew as a musician and developed a keen interest in seeking a career in Clarinet.

From 2016 to 2018 Rennie was a student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Junior Department and was taught by Alison Waller. Here he was also involved in orchestral projects with conductors such as Christopher Adey and Holly Mathieson. Both as a soloist and within various chamber music groups he won classes at the Glasgow Music Festival.

Rennie was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for 2018. As a result of this opportunity, he was fortunate to have worked with critically-acclaimed conductors including Sir Mark Elder and Sir George Benjamin and perform at venues including Birmingham Symphony Hall, Barbican and at the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms.

Rennie gained a place to study at the Royal College of Music with Timothy Lines and Richard Hosford, as a Jamie Milford Award Holder.

How the Award Helped

Rennie’s Award supported him in his studies at the Royal College of Music.

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"I cannot thank Dewar Arts Awards enough for enabling me to begin my studies at the Royal College of Music. It is an opportunity few are fortunate to get and so I look forward to making the most of it. Thank you!"

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2018 Awardee: Rachael Keiller

"I couldn't have participated in the project without the help of the Dewar Arts Awards. Thank you for making it possible!"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.rachaelkeiller.com/
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Leven in Fife, Rachael started performing from a young age at her local youth theatre.

At 18, she moved to Edinburgh and studied at Telford College (PASS). After graduating she worked as an actor and drama facilitator, then continued her studies at New College Lanarkshire. She obtained first-class honours in Acting.

After moving to Glasgow, Rachael continued to develop her work as an actor. In 2018, she was offered the opportunity to participate in ‘The Network Ensemble’, working with SDTN and Caitlin Skinner. This would allow her to create a new piece of work, develop her theatre-making skills, and to develop her practice as a theatre maker, writer and actor.

https://www.spotlight.com/0537-8978-0509

Her ambition is to create her own theatre, and she is passionate about making work with and for young audiences.

How the Award Helped

Rachael’s Award enabled her to attend ‘The Network Ensemble 2018’. This allowed her to develop her theatre skills and to have her first fringe experience as a performer.

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"I couldn't have participated in the project without the help of the Dewar Arts Awards. Thank you for making it possible!"

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2018 Awardee: Stephanie Maitland

"I cannot thank the Dewar Arts Awards enough for their generous funding. Without their support, I would be unable to attend this wonderful institution and I am so grateful...for the chance to further my studies."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Stephanie has always had a passion for singing. She studied her undergraduate degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on a scholarship where she achieved an Honours Degree of the First Class. During her time there, she participated in a masterclass with Meribeth Bunch Dayme, received coaching from Rachel Nicholls and partook in many poignant choral engagements. She sang the role of Hermia in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the RCS Opera Scenes and was a member of the chorus of the Conservatoire’s production of Die Fledermaus in May of 2017.

Stephanie was part of the launch of the Piccalilli Opera Company; a new budding opera company based in the Yorkshire area. She has also worked closely with the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society by putting on various concerts in the Charles Rennie Mackintosh church and the House for an Art Lover.

Over the summer of 2017, she joined Opera Bohemia on their sell-out tour around Scotland as a member of the chorus in their production of Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers. She also attended her second British Youth Opera summer workshop as well as attending the Oxenfoord International Summer School.

Having gained a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music, Stephanie sang the role of Mercedes in Bizet’s Carmen in 40minutes, participated in a weekend residency with Opera North working with Nicholas Kok and Tim Albery, and sang in a masterclass with Andrew Shore. She was also involved in the first recording of Cellier’s Dorothy with Richard Bonynge and Victorian Opera Northwest singing the role of Phyllis (released in Febuary 2019 by NAXOS).

Stephanie was also a finalist in the Frederick Cox Award and has sang in various charity concerts and opera galas throughout the year. She portrayed the Sandman in RNCM’s spring production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, conducted by Anthony Kraus and directed by Stephen Medcalf. She was also involved in Clonter Opera’s Spring Opera Showcase singing a variety of repetoire and working with Michael McCaffery and Anthony Legge.

In summer 2018, Stephanie sang with Buxton International Festival, singing chorus in Mozart’s Idomeneo, conducted by Nicholas Kok and directed by Stephen Medcalf, and singing chorus and covering the role of Zuma in Verdi’s Alzira, conducted by Stephen Barlow and directed by Elijah Moshinsky. Additional engagements include singing the roles of La Principessa in Suor Angelica and Zita in Gianni Schicchi in RNCM’s Puccini double bill, directed by Robert Chevara and conducted by Marin Andre.

Stephanie is very grateful to be supported by The Sir James Caird’s Travelling Scholarship Trust and the Dewar Arts Awards.

How the Award Helped

Stephanie’s Award supported her in studying on the Masters in Vocal Performance course the Royal Northern College of Music.

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"I cannot thank the Dewar Arts Awards enough for their generous funding. Without their support, I would be unable to attend this wonderful institution and I am so grateful...for the chance to further my studies."

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2018 Awardee: Ewan Miller

"This award has provided me with what I have always desired: the ability to work tirelessly and completely on becoming a professional actor...From the bottom of my heart, thank you"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/ewan__miller

Biography

Ewan was born in the Scottish Highlands and moved between parents on the East and West Coast of Scotland whilst growing up. In his final year of secondary school he made the move to Ullapool, where he was introduced to acting in a production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This proved to be a life-changing experience for Ewan, who found such resonance in his role as an actor that this resulted in a shift of mind set and a new trajectory for his ambitions.

Ewan auditioned for the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), and although he reached the final stage of auditions, he was encouraged to gain a little more life experience first. In response to this suggestion, Ewan completed a one year course at Telford College in Edinburgh, then worked with the Scottish Youth Theatre and Mary McCluskey, touring around Scotland with a show written by Brian Cosgrove. After the tour, Ewan completed an Honours Degree whilst working to support himself in his studies.

After an intense audition season in 2017/18, Ewan gained places and scholarships to many of the UK’s top drama schools. He chose to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and having continued to develop his technique as an actor has been recognised as an exceptional student by his teachers:

‘From the second that Ewan arrived at RCS it was clear that he was very talented, committed, extremely reliable, and hardworking student – he stood out immediately. He is an exceptional student and wonderful person and he is a joy to work with. He is a real artist.’ – Katya Kamotskaia, Acting Lecturer, RCS

Ewan has also performed the leading role in a short film that has experienced some international success and continues to look for roles that challenge and develop his playing diversity, a challenge that he is enjoying at drama school. The director of SKIN (2017), Alasdair Boyce, stated:

‘Ewan very quickly grasped the complexities of the character and was able to adeptly interpret them into his performance. Despite a primarily stage based background Ewan adapted very quickly to the process of acting for screen. I was initially concerned that his performance may be too theatrical for the sullen and brooding fisherman but Ewan very quickly dispelled these concerns by delivering a masterfully understated performance in which he very convincingly and emotively managed to say everything without saying anything – a technique that I find crucial to dramatic realism.’

Ewan is now set on achieving his unwavering ambition to become a professional and versatile Scottish actor for film, stage and television.

How the Award Helped

Ewan received a Dewar Arts Award to support him in his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

He says;

‘This award has provided me with what I have always desired: the ability to work tirelessly and completely on becoming a professional actor and the skillset that I see necessary for this. It has removed the pressures that can be added by life and, in place of them, given me freedom and space to focus all of my energy on the work. Being given this opportunity, after having to wait with burning ambitions, means so much to me that I am deeply moved whenever I spend any time thinking about it. It is both rare and wonderful and so deeply appreciated. It is actually very difficult to put into words how it feels. I just look forward to showing how I have used the resulting freedom, space and time provided by the award as it is already having such an enormous influence on the craft I am developing at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.’

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"This award has provided me with what I have always desired: the ability to work tirelessly and completely on becoming a professional actor...From the bottom of my heart, thank you"

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2018 Awardee: Hugh Mackay

"The generous support of this organisation has provided much needed security while I pursue my studies"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/hmackaycellist

Biography

Hugh Mackay is a Scottish cellist whose musical life comprises many different areas of performance including chamber music, orchestral playing and historically-informed performance. He has played in leadings festivals including The BBC Proms, Enescu Festival (Bucharest) and Festival Berlioz (France), and venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Palace of Versailles.

Hugh received his formative education at St. Mary’s Music School (Edinburgh), where he studied with Ruth Beauchamp, Philip Higham and William Conway. In 2017, he gained a place to study with Hannah Roberts and Jonathan Manson at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he was awarded the Yadegar-Hall Scholarship.

In 2019, Hugh was selected for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s Experience Scheme, working with the orchestra throughout 2019 including concerts at the Enescu Festival in Bucharest. He has worked with many leading conductors such as Trevor Pinnock, Thomas Adès, Edward Gardner, John Wilson, Masaako Suzuki, Nicholas Collon, and Ryan Wigglesworth, and enjoys a variety of freelance engagements, such as playing as an inaugural member of the London Contemporary Music Festival Orchestra on BBC Radio 3 in December 2018.

Hugh was the co-principal cellist of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, exposing him to the leading British venues as well as recording works by Strauss and Holst for Chandos Records. In 2017 he played at the Festival Berlioz in La Côte-Saint-André, France with the NYO, playing Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite of Spring’ under the direction of Gerry Cornelius.

Hugh has performed chamber works at Kinnordy Chamber Music Festival, Petworth Festival, Brighton Early Music Festival, Hatfield Festival and Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival (Lucca) and also the Hatworth Festival.

How the Award Helped

Hugh’s Award supported him in his studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Since the Award

2019: 1st Prizewinner of the 2019 Isaacs Pirani Piano Trio Competition (RAM)  alongside colleagues Manuel De Almeida-Ferrer and Wouter Valvekens.

2020: 1st Prizewinner of the 2020 May Mukle Cello Sonata Prize (Royal Academy of Music) alongside duo partner, Junyan Chen

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"The generous support of this organisation has provided much needed security while I pursue my studies"

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2018 Awardee: Aileen Sweeney

"Being able to study a postgraduate degree will open up so many more career opportunities for me...I will always be incredibly grateful"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.eriska.net/
 
 

Biography

Aileen is an accordionist and pianist of formidable talent and keen imagination. She has performed works by composers such as Dr. Gareth Williams and Dr. Emily Doolittle with some of the leading contemporary music ensembles in Scotland, including The Glasgow New Music Expedition, Ensemble Thing and NOISE Opera, whilst also working alongside the young composers in the RCS Junior Conservatoire.

In 2012 and 2013 Aileen won First Prize in the UK Accordion Senior Recital and Second Prize in the International Accordion Championship Open Solo. In 2016, she founded the folk-fusion band Eriska which she performs with regularly across Scotland, having just released their debut album.

Aileen studied a Bachelor of Music in Classical Accordion and Composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In her first year, she was awarded the Tony and Tania Webster Prize for Rare Russian Music. In her third year, she was awarded the Dunbar-Gerber Prize for Chamber Music.

https://soundcloud.com/aileen-sweeney-2

In 2018, Aileen performed Piazzolla’s Concerto for Bandoneon with orchestra conducted by David Watkin as a finalist of The Edinburgh Festival Concerto Competition.  She also became the inaugural recipient of the Geddes-Peterson composition prize at RCS. As the winner, Aileen was asked to write an orchestral work in John Maxwell Geddes’ memory which was performed at his memorial concert.

Aileen graduated from the RCS with First Class Honours, and went on to study at postgraduate level. Her works have been performed by the likes of the Red Note ensemble, RCS Music Lab and the Psappha ensemble.

How the Award Helped

Aileen’s Dewar Arts Award supported her postgraduate studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

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"Being able to study a postgraduate degree will open up so many more career opportunities for me...I will always be incredibly grateful"

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2018 Awardee: Isabelle Thomson

"I am extremely grateful to have received this award...and to work towards my ambitions full time. As an emerging artist, it is very encouraging to know you are being supported."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Isabelle is a gifted and idiosyncratic artist, who was born in Inverness and grew up in the Highlands of Scotland.

In 2016, Isabelle graduated from Gray’s School of Art with a First Class BA (Hons) in Painting. Whilst at Gray’s, she was awarded a Cross Trust Vacation Award which she used to travel to Iceland to collect visual research. This trip was the catalyst for her fourth year work and degree show.

After graduating from Gray’s, Isabelle was one of the selected Graduates in Residence at Leith School of Art. At the 2016 Visual Arts Scotland annual exhibition she won the Great Art Award.

In 2018, Isabelle exhibited in London at both the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize in the Mall Galleries and at Fully Awake in the Royal College of Art. She also received an award to undergo one-to-one animation tutorials from Highland Visual Artist & Craft Maker Award Scheme and won a Hope Scott Trust Award to for research in Canada.

Isabelle’s oil paintings often include text and other materials. She paints to understand the value of the wilderness: to reawaken our slow and essential ‘mountain time’.

How the Award Helped

Isabelle received a Dewar Arts Award to enable her to work in a Wasp’s Artist’s Studio in Inverness for a year. This enabled her to build a new body of work from her time in Canada and Scotland, and to further develop the use of animation within her practice, with the aim of using this to apply for a Masters Degree in Fine Art.

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"I am extremely grateful to have received this award...and to work towards my ambitions full time. As an emerging artist, it is very encouraging to know you are being supported."

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2018 Awardee: Jean Oberlander

"I am so grateful for the continued support in my education, it means so much to me"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.oberjean.co.uk/
 
 

Biography

Jean gained a First Class Honours Degree from Gray’s School of Art, where she studied BA Fashion and Textile Design. The course enabled her to experiment within both spheres of material and body using hand and machine knitting. Her degree collection won the Alexandrina McKenzie Legacy Award, a Highly Commended in the BP Graduate Design Award, and was selected for the Visual Arts Scotland Graduate Showcase at the Royal Scottish Academy.

In 2017 Jean moved to London after gaining a place on the MA Textiles course at the Royal College of Art, specialising in Knit. Her MA dissertation received a distinction, and she gave a paper at the “In the Loop” knitting academic conference in July 2018.

Jean continues to work between the body and space to create knitted pieces that are both familiar and unfamiliar. She uses knitting, mark making and writing in her practice to convey the metaphors of the knitted stitch. In the future, she aims to build on her MA and continue to push the boundaries in knit further.

How the Award Helped

Jean received a Dewar Arts Award to support her MA studies at the Royal College of Art.

On achieving her award, Jean said: “Without the Dewar Award I would have not been able to attend the RCA at all. The support meant I was able to pay for tuition fees and materials, without which I would have not been able to make work of any standard. I am so grateful for the continued support in my education, it means so much to me and being on this course has enabled me to build more confidence in my work as well as making connections and experimenting in a supportive and innovative environment. I am eternally grateful for the support in making sure I am able to build a better future for myself.”

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"I am so grateful for the continued support in my education, it means so much to me"

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2018 Awardee: Leona Craig

"I very much appreciate the financial support being given to me from The Dewar Award in order to achieve my dream. Thank you."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Leona is an exceptionally talented actor, singer-songwriter and musician who plays several instruments to an excellent standard including piano, guitar, banjo and ukulele.

From the age of 15 to17, Leona attended The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s (RCS) Junior Musical Theatre whilst at school. Here she undertook intensive Musical Theatre training and grew as a performer in a supportive environment. This nurtured her ambition and determination for her future career.

Leona was also a member of Perth Youth Theatre and Ad-Lib Theatre Arts, where she explored a range of acting techniques.  This led to her successfully auditioning for the role of Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’ and Fantine in ‘Les Miserables’. In 2017 she was successful in securing a place as a member of Scottish Youth Theatre’s (SYT) first National Ensemble. Here she artistically evolved whilst working with influential industry professionals and pushing creative boundaries.

Following her ensemble experience, Leona secured a job with The Family Storytime Company at SYT. This year-long position involved developing, writing, composing and producing a story to engaged a young audience in a positive learning environment. Leona discovered a passion for passing on her knowledge of drama, dance and music, whilst sparking imagination and igniting an excitement to learn.

Leona has achived ABRSM Grade 8 Piano and ABRSM Grade 8 Singing with Merit. Her dedication to developing her skills earned her a place at the prestigious Mountview Theatre School, London, to study on the BA Actor/Musician Course.

How the Award Helped

Leona’s Award enabled her to accept her place to study at the Mountview Theatre School in London.

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"I very much appreciate the financial support being given to me from The Dewar Award in order to achieve my dream. Thank you."

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