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

Back

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

Back

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).

Back

Back

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.

Back

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

Back

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.

Back

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.

Back

2011 Awardee: Timothy Cooper

I will endeavour to use the opportunities you have made possible to the best of my ability. I am extremely proud that your fantastic organisation has chosen to support me and would like to thank all of the trustees for their generosity.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2011
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.timothy-cooper.co.uk/
 
 

Biography

Originally from Darlington, Timothy moved to Scotland in 2006 to complete his undergraduate music studies in Euphonium performance. He continues his studies in music and composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland working towards a postgraduate master of composition degree.

His first year was successful in that his work was performed both in Australia and in the UK. Timothy’s particular passion is to work across art forms and he has completed the sound design for Joshua Armstrong’s The Sounding, for the National Youth Theatre’s workshop production Razia Sultan and for a short film by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland students working in film and TV. He has also been selected by the Conservatoire to compose a piece for a group at the Paris Conservatoire. The piece will be performed in both Paris and Stuttgart.

Timothy is admired by performers and mentors for his combination of great talent and energy in making things happen. He co-founded the successful group edit point which is making great headway in Scotland and further afield.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards will provide the financial support Timothy needs in order to complete his masters degree.

Friction: Commissioned by Diaphonique, Franco-British Fund for Contemporary Music De Profundis, trombone, tuba and percussion ensemble Clément Carpentier, conducting recorded at Saint-Louis des Invalides, Paris, February, 2. 2012 sound engineer : Alice Legros

Shimmering: Performed by Jonathan Morton

Back

I will endeavour to use the opportunities you have made possible to the best of my ability. I am extremely proud that your fantastic organisation has chosen to support me and would like to thank all of the trustees for their generosity.

Back

2010 Awardee: Lynda-Jane Workman

[Being able to concentrate solely on my studies] will allow me to participate in opera productions, work with professional singers and accompanists in masterclasses and concentrate on my language skills.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born and raised in Northern Ireland, mezzo-soprano Lynda-Jane has been studying opera at Glasgow’s RSAMD for the past five years under Kathleen McKellar-Ferguson.

Before coming to Scotland Lynda-Jane sang with the Ulster Youth Choir at Proms in the Park and took part in their Ireland and France Tours. She has sung in a number of RSAMD’s opera productions and also in the opening concert of the 2008 Edinburgh International Festival as one of the ‘Ladies of Mahagonny’ from Kurt Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.

In 2006, she represented the RSAMD at the Junior Kathleen Ferrier Awards. She has sung in masterclasses with Malcolm Martineau and Patricia McMahon and was a finalist in the Frank Spedding Lieder prize and the 2009 RSAMD Governor’s Prize for Voice.

Lynda-Jane is a founder member of Dieci – an a cappella group she established with some friends at the RSAMD in 2006. Dieci were recently grand finalists in the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition. The group are on the point of releasing their second CD and tour regularly throughout the UK.

Lynda-Jane is considered to exude star quality and, according to her mentors, her voice has developed wonderfully and her ability to tackle major vocal challenges is inspirational.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Lynda-Jane to pursue a Master of Music (Performance) degree at RSAMD.

After a successful first year, Lynda-Jane’s award was extended for a second and final year towards a Master of Music in Voice Performance.

Back

[Being able to concentrate solely on my studies] will allow me to participate in opera productions, work with professional singers and accompanists in masterclasses and concentrate on my language skills.

Back

2010 Awardee: Emily Hoile

Thank you so much for the offer of a Dewar Arts Award. I would be delighted to accept it in order to help fund my studies in New York.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.myspace.com/emilyhoile
 
 

Biography

Newcastle-born Emily studied harp first with Isobel Meiras at the City of Edinburgh Music School and later continued studying pedal harp and clàrsach with Catriona Mackay at St Mary’s Music School, also in Edinburgh, where she was considered to be one of their most outstanding instrumentalists.

Emily distinguished herself on many occasions as a concerto soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player and has won many prestigious prizes, including the Audrey Innes Concerto Prize 2009, the Traves Trophy in 2010 at the Edinburgh Festival Competition, the Mozart Concerto Competition and the Director’s Recital Prize at St Mary’s Music School.   In 2005, at the age of 13, she was awarded a Dewar Arts Award to buy a pedal harp.

Emily has been a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and, since September 2009, has been principal harp in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Emily is also an accomplished clàrsach player and is a member of the Sage Gateshead Folkestra and the Celtic fusion group Kilairum. She has been a finalist in the BBC Radio Two Young Folk Awards and a semi-finalist in the Young Traditional Musician competition. With Kilairum, she won a place in the Danny Kyle Open Stage at the 2010 Celtic Connections Festival.

Emily has won a scholarship to study harp with renowned harpist Nancy Allen at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. She describes this as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enables Emily to study music at Juilliard School of Music, New York.

After a very successful first year at Juilliard, Emily’s award was extended for a second year.

Emily Hoile & Alice Burn @ NFFF 2011

Emily & Sam Hoile filmed by Michael Boyers in Northumberland Street

Back

Thank you so much for the offer of a Dewar Arts Award. I would be delighted to accept it in order to help fund my studies in New York.

Back

2010 Awardee: Louise Alder

Thank you so much for considering me, I cannot tell you what a difference this will make to my life next year. To be supported by such a prestigious trust is an honour.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

London-born Louise Alder studied music at the University of Edinburgh and is considered to be one of the very best singers the Music Department have had in recent years. While at Edinburgh University, Louise won two prestigious singing competitions, the Edinburgh University Concerto Competition 2009 and the 2010 Margaret Fletcher Lieder Prize.

Louise is considered to be an outstanding talent with international potential of the highest quality. She has given memorable performances while still a student at Edinburgh, including Creation at the St Magnus Festival, Orkney, Bach Magnificat in St Giles’ Cathedral and Carmina Burana in St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. Her performance of Vixen in ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ won great critical acclaim.

In the summer of 2010, she will be understudying the role of Euridice in Peri’s ‘Euridice’ with the British Youth Opera and will perform the role of Musetta in the OperaUpClose production of ‘La Bohème’. She is a Britten Pears Young Artist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Louise to pursue a Master of Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music in London. After an excellent first year, Louise’s funding was extended for a second and final year.

Back

Thank you so much for considering me, I cannot tell you what a difference this will make to my life next year. To be supported by such a prestigious trust is an honour.

Back

2010 Awardee: Lewis Anderson

I would like to express my gratitude to the trustees of the Dewar Arts Awards for considering me. This award will make my time in London much more productive and rewarding.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Paisley-born Lewis gained a place at the Douglas Academy Music School after showing exceptional promise in his early years at primary school. There he was taught by Jo Pacewicz, clarinettist with the RSNO. In Primary 7 he entered the RSAMD Junior programme. In 2009, Lewis sat Advanced Higher Music and received the highest marks in Scotland.

In 2010, Lewis performed with NYOS, conducted by Diego Masson, and as part of a trio won the Aillie Cullen Memorial Prize at the Glasgow Music Festival for the best performance of the festival. He has also been playing principal clarinet in the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra where he had the opportunity to conduct the orchestra, under the watchful eye of James Lowe.

Lewis is considered to be one of the most exciting woodwind instrumentalists in Scotland of his generation of young musicians, showing exceptional musical intelligence and originality in his playing. When Lewis was offered a place to study music at the Royal College of Music, he writes that “to be offered a place … was beyond anything I ever imagined I would achieve, and my perspective shifted at that point to not just trying my best but actually being the best I could be.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help him financially as he starts his undergraduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London.

After a very successful first year at the Royal College of Music, the trustees were pleased to extend their support of Lewis into his second year.

Back

I would like to express my gratitude to the trustees of the Dewar Arts Awards for considering me. This award will make my time in London much more productive and rewarding.

Back

2010 Awardee: Michael Clark

I would like to express thanks for the opportunity [you] have given me: [the support] will enable me to focus more on my studies rather than working to support my living costs.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2010
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow born and raised, Michael has performed with a variety of orchestras, including the BBC Merchant Sinfonia, NYOS, the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland and Strathclyde University Orchestra. He studied with Heather Corbett under the Continuing Education Course at RSAMD.

Before leaving Springburn Academy in 2009, Michael completed the Associated Board exams achieving grade 8 with distinction in percussion, grade 4 in guitar and grade 7 with merit in piano. He was successful in gaining a place at the Royal Northern College of Music to study for a degree in music.

Michael’s goal is to become a professional musician.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Award will help towards the tuition, maintenance and other costs while he’s studying at RNCM.

After a successful first year at the Royal Northern College of Music, the trustees were pleased to extend their support of Michael into his second year.

Back

I would like to express thanks for the opportunity [you] have given me: [the support] will enable me to focus more on my studies rather than working to support my living costs.

Back