2024 Awardee: Brendan Norris

Dewar Award has helped me to purchase a professional quality double bass. Having an instrument which allows me to fulfil my potential as a bass player and orchestral musician is a life long and life altering investment.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2024
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Brendan Norris is a double bass player who is passionate about pursuing an orchestral career while writing and arranging music for the double bass. He is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is now doing his Masters at the ‘Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler’ Berlin with Matthew McDonald – Principal Double Bass of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Brendan grew up in a musical family near Biggar. With a gifted composer for a mother, Brendan was inspired to take up the piano and write his own music from an early age. He didn’t discover the double bass however until the age of fourteen while playing mandolin in a blue grass group and getting to have a shot of their double bass. It was love at first plonk, and Brendan quickly took up lessons with May Haliburton. Within three years he had already received a distinction at Grade 8 and entry into the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Since then he has: played principal bass on Medici TV in the prestigious Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra; been part of a variety side by side schemes and young artist programmes; and become an extra player for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

During the final year of his undergraduate degree, Brendan won a number of prizes and competitions including: 1st prize in the Classical Concerto Competition; 1st prize in the Governors Recital Prize for Strings; Highly commended (2nd place) in the Concerto Competition; and the Eugene Cruft Prize for Double Bass.

In the latter years of his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Brendan realised he wanted to get back in touch with the creative aspects of music which started his musical journey. Brendan has started writing and arranging music for double bass, often merging the influences of classical, jazz and traditional Scottish folk music which he experienced during his undergraduate in Glasgow. Having a Masters of Music with the Principal of the Berlin Philharmonic ahead of him, Brendan is excited to take his playing to the next level and keep expanding the repertoire for his beloved double bass.

How the Award Helped

Brendan received a Dewar Award to support the purchase of a professional standard double bass.

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Dewar Award has helped me to purchase a professional quality double bass. Having an instrument which allows me to fulfil my potential as a bass player and orchestral musician is a life long and life altering investment.

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2021 Awardee: Alasdair Campbell

The financial help that Dewar have provided me with has been of massive help. As a student the costs of being a musician had become more pressuring, but the financial help that The Dewar Arts Award have given me has massively helped, and allowed my focus to be fully re-shifted back to my passion for music and the enjoyment I get out of it. It has allowed me to be able to fund the continuation of music lessons, and thus ensuring my continued development.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2021
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Alasdair Campbell is a Scottish violinist and fiddle player, who has been playing since early primary school. He says that “Music has been a prominent part of my life since and would be the first thing that many people associate me with”. During his school years, Alasdair was involved with various music groups, including the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and The Glasgow Schools’ String Orchestra.

Music has also been a very large part of Alasdair’s social life, he says: “Playing with friends at what are typically very social events such as Ceilidhs and weddings gives me immense enjoyment in a somewhat different way to a classical orchestral concert, which would have different demands yet be immensely enjoyable in different ways”.

Alasdair achieved a distinction in his Trinity Grade 8 violin exam with a mark of 93/100 overall. Alasdair performed with musicians from India in George Square at the Mela ‘Eadarainn’ project for the European Athletics Championships in 2018. He also had a solo performancein on fiddle at the ‘Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl’ concert, held in Glasgow’s City Halls in 2019.

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The financial help that Dewar have provided me with has been of massive help. As a student the costs of being a musician had become more pressuring, but the financial help that The Dewar Arts Award have given me has massively helped, and allowed my focus to be fully re-shifted back to my passion for music and the enjoyment I get out of it. It has allowed me to be able to fund the continuation of music lessons, and thus ensuring my continued development.

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2024 Awardee: Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul

I am extremely grateful for the support of the Dewar Award in giving me the opportunity to pursue my Masters Studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Dewar Award has given me the invaluable gift of time to dedicate myself to my musical development in an international context. Without the Dewar Arts Award, such an opportunity would have been beyond my financial means. The funding opened doors to being able to move to Denmark to study, where I’ve had the opportunity to meet musicians from all over the world. I’ve had the privilege of learning from world-class teachers, whose expertise I’m learning so much from. The funding has also allowed me to immerse myself in the life and culture of a new country, where I’ve been able to connect with people and share the joy of music. It's marvellous to share different musical and cultural traditions which enriches us all together. The Dewar Award has made all of this possible, and I’d like to express my gratitude for the time, resources and support you have provided as I take these next steps in my musical career. Thank you for the support.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2024
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.cchaimbeul.com/
 
TWITTER: https://x.com/cchaimbeul

Biography

Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul is a musician who is influenced by traditional Gaelic music as well as a passion for classical music. She is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she studied with distinguished Serbian Accordionist, Djordje Gajic.

She is currently pursuing her Masters in Classical Accordion Performance at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark. There, she studies with Professor Geir Draugsvoll and Professor Bjarke Mogenson, and is kindly supported by the Dewar Arts Awards, the Anglo/Danish Society and the Cross Trust.

Ciorstaidh grew up on the Isle of Skye, where she was surrounded by Gaelic music and culture from a very young age. She regularly performs at festivals and venues throughout the UK, including Celtic Connections, where she was awarded a Danny
Kyle Award in 2024. She was a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2019. She is a keen collaborator, and premiered new works for accordion at the RCS Plug Festival. She appeared alongside the RCS Accordion Quartet at the BBC Radio 4 Front Row Programme, ahead of their performance at the St Magnus Festival in Orkney.

Internationally, she has performed at the Malmo Folk Festival in Sweden. Alongside performing, Ciorstaidh is an experienced music teacher, teaching both privately, and at the Glasgow Folk Music Workshop.

How the Award Helped

Ciorstaidh received an award to support her Masters studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she studied with Professor Geir Draugsvoll and Professor Bjarke Mogenson.

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I am extremely grateful for the support of the Dewar Award in giving me the opportunity to pursue my Masters Studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Dewar Award has given me the invaluable gift of time to dedicate myself to my musical development in an international context. Without the Dewar Arts Award, such an opportunity would have been beyond my financial means. The funding opened doors to being able to move to Denmark to study, where I’ve had the opportunity to meet musicians from all over the world. I’ve had the privilege of learning from world-class teachers, whose expertise I’m learning so much from. The funding has also allowed me to immerse myself in the life and culture of a new country, where I’ve been able to connect with people and share the joy of music. It's marvellous to share different musical and cultural traditions which enriches us all together. The Dewar Award has made all of this possible, and I’d like to express my gratitude for the time, resources and support you have provided as I take these next steps in my musical career. Thank you for the support.

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2024 Awardee: Eve Pearson Maxwell

Dewar Arts has helped me with the expenses of living and studying in London while pursuing my Master's. With this money I can focus on my studies and the development of my career. I cannot thank them enough for their support!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2024
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.instagram.com/evepearsonmaxwellsoprano/
 
 

Biography

Scottish soprano Eve Pearson Maxwell studied her undergraduate at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is now studying her Postgraduate at the Royal College of Music with Amanda Roocroft as a Leverhulme Scholar.

While at the RCS Eve participated and placed in several competitions, her most recent, winning 2nd prize at the International Mozart Competition, Vienna.

She has performed with the RCS Choir as a soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria and as Second Witch/Dido cover in Dido & Aeneas. Under Karen Cargill’s Associate Artist programme Eve performed Brahms Liebeslieder-Walzer at the Cumnock Tryst, The Stevenson Hall, and Drumlanrig Castle.

Eve has recorded backing vocals for the short film, Fire and Lace and performed First Swan Maiden for Retrospect Opera’s recording of Kennedy-Fraser’s The Seal Woman with the Scottish Opera orchestra.

Her recent engagements include joining the chorus of Mozart’s Idomeneo with the Alexander Gibson Opera School and Donna Anna in Clyde Opera’s production of Don Giovanni.

How the Award Helped

Eve received a Dewar Award to support her Master’s studies at the Royal College of Music in London.

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Dewar Arts has helped me with the expenses of living and studying in London while pursuing my Master's. With this money I can focus on my studies and the development of my career. I cannot thank them enough for their support!

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2024 Awardee: Laura Penman

Thank you again for your support! I love my new electro harp, and I’m so excited to use it in new projects.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2024
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.instagram.com/laurapenmanmusic/
 
 

Biography

Laura Penman is a clarsach player, pianist and composer, who has enjoyed playing traditional music from a young age. She has a passion for creating contemporary arrangements and compositions, highlighting the clarsach within the wider traditional music scene. She began playing the Clarsach at primary school whilst attending Gaelic Medium Education in Edinburgh. She later attended the RCS Juniors, which showed her that being a successful traditional musician was a viable option. She went on to study on the BMus Traditional Music course at the Royal Conservatoire and graduated in 2024. During her time there, Laura was immersed in tradition and inspired by musicians from around the world, working with traditional musicians as well as classical and jazz musicians.

Laura has performed at festivals including Celtic Connections and The Scots Fiddle Festival and played in venues such as the Usher Hall in Edinburgh and the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. Her recent projects involved performing and recording with singer Beth Malcolm, as well as forming a Gaelic song band called Duan. She also formed an all-female band with fellow students at the RCS, called Dàna. The band have performed at many events and festivals, including Piping Live and Under Canvas. In February 2025, Laura was selected as a finalist for the Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award.

How the Award Helped

Laura’s award allowed her to purchase an electro harp, which opens up entirely new possibilities. She hopes to explore electronic sounds and pedal effects, incorporating these ideas into both the traditional idiom, as well as challenging and improving her composition skills. She hopes to record and release a new composition suite that she has written, inspired by the Seven Summits of Edinburgh.

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Thank you again for your support! I love my new electro harp, and I’m so excited to use it in new projects.

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2024 Awardee: Victor Dutor Davidson

The Dewar Arts Award has been an essential support in my musical education, helping me overcome financial barriers and pursue a career that I believe in. Thank you.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2024
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Victor’s musical journey began at the age of 12, when he first took up the Trumpet through school lessons. His early promise was soon recognised, and by the age of 14, he was offered a place at St Mary’s Music School, and continued his studies with Peter Franks.

During his early years, Victor was an active participant in local music-making, particularly with the organisation Oi Musica. He also became a member of Shunpike, a band with whom he has performed extensively, both locally and nationally, including at the famous Jazz Bar in Edinburgh.

At St Mary’s, Victor’s development was further nurtured through his involvement with Scotland’s youth orchestras. He performed across the country’s most esteemed concert halls as part of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. His performance experience extends to several solo performances in competitions and recital prizes, one of which resulted in a performance of the Neruda Trumpet Concerto with the Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra in December 2023. Before leaving St Mary’s Music School, Victor was awarded the Muirhead Prize for a Brass Player and the Dunlop Composition Prize.

In the summer of 2024, Victor expanded his artistic horizons when he was invited to participate in the San Marino New Music Project, where he performed contemporary works in San Marino and Rimini. By working with musicians such as Trombonist John Kenny and Italian composer Giacomo Manzoni, he has gained further interest in contemporary styles.

How the Award Helped

Victor’s Award supports his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he is enrolled on the BMus Classical Trumpet course with Paul Beniston.

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The Dewar Arts Award has been an essential support in my musical education, helping me overcome financial barriers and pursue a career that I believe in. Thank you.

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2024 Awardee: Tammy Dyson

Receiving the Dewar Award has been transformative for me. As a working-class artist, having access to quality drum equipment and studio space is something I couldn’t have achieved on my own. This support has allowed me the freedom to truly express myself, experiment, and refine my techniques, pushing my music further than I ever thought possible.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2024
AGE AT AWARD:
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.instagram.com/saintsappho_
 
 

Biography

Tammy is a multimedia artist and musician, and recent graduate of the Glasgow School of Art. Since completing her studies, she’s been immersed in a diverse creative practice, spanning visual art, music production, and film.

Tammy’s work flows between mediums, aiming to connect sound, image, and rhythm into expressive, impactful pieces. Music, especially drumming, has become a central part of her practice. Performing live with her band, Saint Sappho, and working on music videos has allowed Tammy to blend visual storytelling with soundscapes, creating experiences that resonate on multiple levels.

With each new project, Tammy looks forward to expanding her creative reach, performing more live shows, and evolving as an artist. Her journey is ongoing, and she’s committed to following it wherever it leads, always pushing boundaries and exploring the intersections of art, sound, and movement.

How the Award Helped

Tammy’s Award helped her secure a suitable studio space, enabling her to develop her artistic practice, nurture her musical talents, and hone her skills.

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Receiving the Dewar Award has been transformative for me. As a working-class artist, having access to quality drum equipment and studio space is something I couldn’t have achieved on my own. This support has allowed me the freedom to truly express myself, experiment, and refine my techniques, pushing my music further than I ever thought possible.

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2022 Awardee: Shubbe Kabanda

The opportunity to study what I am passionate about with support from the Dewar Arts Award is something I am incredibly thankful for and appreciate greatly.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2022
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.instagram.com/shubbeguitar
 
 

Biography

Born in Glasgow, classical guitarist Shubbe Kabanda has been involved in music from an early age. Initially playing percussion and participating in school and community choirs, she later took up the guitar. During her senior years of secondary education, she was chosen to receive cello lessons, which inspired her to progress down the path of becoming a classical musician. Her season at the Junior Conservatoire reinforced her desire for music and kickstarted her journey into higher education. She is now an undergraduate at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tutelage of Sasha Savaloni.

In 2023, Shubbe achieved runner-up in Glasgow’s Scottish Young Musician Competition at the City Halls. She was part of the 2022 and 2023 Big Guitar Weekend events at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She was also a part of the Glasgow CREATE guitar ensemble, choirs, and percussion ensemble, performing in their Christmas and spring concerts. For the Gold Music Leadership Award in secondary school, she was given the opportunity to work with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, volunteering in the community.

How the Award Helped

Shubbe’s award helped her to purchase a classical guitar and supports her BMus studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

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The opportunity to study what I am passionate about with support from the Dewar Arts Award is something I am incredibly thankful for and appreciate greatly.

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2017 Awardee: Ryan Corbett

I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for their generous support that has enabled me to play on an instrument of the finest quality.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.ryancorbett.com/
 
 

Biography

Ryan is a classical accordionist who has studied at the Music School of Douglas Academy (Milngavie), St Mary’s Music School (Edinburgh) and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Glasgow). Ryan began playing accordion aged eleven and taught himself until he started learning with Djordje Gajic when he was fourteen.

His awards include the Allie Cullen prize for most outstanding performance at the Glasgow Music Festival, the Directors Recital Prize at St Mary’s Music School, second prize at the International Accordion Festival in San Vincenzo (Italy), third prize at the Akkordeonwettbewerb in Klingenthal (Germany) and third prize at the Harbin International Accordion Art Week (China), where he was the youngest competitor to be placed. In 2021, he was the winner of the keyboard category of the Annual Music Competition at the Royal Overseas League in London.

Ryan has given solo concerts at venues including the Berlin Philharmonie, University of Glasgow, Brunton Theatre (Edinburgh Festival), Cannongate Kirk (Edinbach Festival), an all-Baroque programme at the Museu de la Musica de Barcelona (Bachcelona Festival) and at the Jesus-Christus-Kirche Dahlem. His experience as a concerto soloist includes performing Václav Trojan’s ‘Fairytales’ concerto at the Queens Hall, St Mary’s Cathedral, and RCS, recording Bach’s fourth keyboard concerto with the Berliner Symphoniker as part of the Piazzolla centenary celebrations. He also performed as a soloist with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland in June 2022.

As an active chamber musician, he has played duets with violin, viola, cello, flute, piano and voice, and has been invited to play with Red Note Ensemble, Hebrides Ensemble and the Maxwell Quartet. In 2021 he formed an accordion duo with Djordje Gajic, the programme features an arrangement of Stravinsky’s ballet ‘Petrushka’ and Ryan’s own arrangement of Bach Prelude and Fugue in Eb which was described as “musically unified and utterly compelling” (Seen and Heard International). He also arranged a short orchestral piece by Rameau for three Accordions which was performed for HRH Prince Charles during his official visit to the Conservatoire.

How the Award Helped

Ryan’s Award supported his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Since the Award

In 2021, Ryan was the winner of the 2021 ROSL Annual Music Competition Gold Medal. He has also been appointed to the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme for 2022-2024.

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I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for their generous support that has enabled me to play on an instrument of the finest quality.

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2021 Awardee: Gina Wright

"This Dewar Arts Award has allowed me to experience a wonderful first year at RCS Juniors. I have been able to gain expertise from acclaimed musicians from all over the world as well as make life-long friends."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2021
AGE AT AWARD: 15
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Gina is a violist who was born in Scotland to a Scottish father and a German mother. From a young age she has enjoyed spending time with her family and friends in Germany and Scotland, and likes to share her passion for music by giving small informal concerts to her loved ones.

Gina became a pupil at the Music School of Douglas Academy in Milngavie in August 2020 and started her journey as a student of Dr. Lev Atlas (viola) and Claire Haslin (piano). Although new to the piano she quickly progressed to Grade 6 in her first year, and now enjoys teaching as well as exploring the exciting repertoire the instrument has to offer.

In 2021, Gina received a Dewar Arts Award, which enabled her to become a member of the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This opened up incredible opportunities to her, such as playing at the COP 26 Conference in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall alongside the Undergraduate and Postgraduate students of the RCS.

Since the Award

In March 2022, Gina took part in a masterclass with the Brodsky Quartet where she played the 1st Movement of Debussy’s string quartet in G minor with her school’s senior quartet. Upon receiving an exceptionally high mark after their first performance, the quartet went on to compete in the finals for the Allie Cullen Memorial Prize of the Glasgow Music Festival 2022.

Gina was also delighted to be selected as Principal Viola of the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra in 2022, and enjoyed playing the viola solos in Vaughan Williams’ London symphony. Additionally, Gina has been privileged to receive two Awards from the Awards for Young Musicians Charity, namely the Hilary McKenzie Johnston Award and the Robert Lewin Scholarship, which was awarded in recognition of a strong commitment to musicianship and musical excellence.

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"This Dewar Arts Award has allowed me to experience a wonderful first year at RCS Juniors. I have been able to gain expertise from acclaimed musicians from all over the world as well as make life-long friends."

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