2008 Awardee: Calum Tonner

I am delighted to accept the Dewar Arts Award.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD:
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Biography

From Monifieth, Calum is an exceptional trumpet player for his age with bags of potential and motivation. He is currently on the RSAMD Youthworks programme, designed to encourage young musicians of real talent, and his ambition is to study music and become an orchestral trumpet player.

Calum has a real natural talent on the trumpet but is being held back by his current instrument. He is already a sensitive chamber musician and a member of a very fine brass quintet. He is seen as a young musician with enormous potential to make his mark in the future.

Calum plays soprano cornet with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland and toured Japan with them in mid 2008.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Calum to buy a professional trumpet.

Since the Award

Since receiving the award, Calum believes that much of his subsequent musical development has been thanks to finding a trumpet of quality that he enjoys playing. Calum auditioned for conservatoires and was offered a place at both RSAMD and Manchester. He will start studying music at RSAMD in 2011.

Calum has enjoyed success in other areas, winning the award for Best Instrumentalist in Brass Bands, winning the concerto class at the RSAMD Junior Academy and reaching the semi-finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist of the Year 2011.

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I am delighted to accept the Dewar Arts Award.

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2008 Awardee: Daniel Rainey

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for assisting me in fulfilling my goal to become an accomplished musician.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow-born Daniel says simply that ‘music is my life and my ambition is to become an accomplished violinist’. Daniel currently leads both the West Dunbartonshire Schools and the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestras and is a member of NYOS. He has set his sights on studying music at Glasgow’s, RSAMD, where he currently attends the Junior Academy.

Daniel started to learn the piano when he was six and his natural ability immediately shone through. He has continued with both piano and violin, and his playing, both private and public, gives pleasure to many people.

As Daniel progressed with his violin studies, it became apparent that he needed a professional quality instrument to realise his potential as a violinist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enables Daniel to buy a violin of professional standard

Since the Award

Since receiving the award, Daniel writes that he was able to buy a violin of quality which fitted his needs.  His playing improved immediately, benefiting from the virtuous circle of his being inspired to practice more on a violin of such quality.  When Daniel auditioned for conservatoires he was offered a place at RSAMD, Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music.  Daniel is now studying music at RSAMD and writes that “many of the achievements in my musical life would never have been possible without Dewar’s assistance.”

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for assisting me in fulfilling my goal to become an accomplished musician.

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2008 Awardee: David Gray

I am absolutely delighted to have received one of the Dewar Arts Awards…thank you very much for the very generous award.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From Glasgow, David is a final year pupil at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh. He first played the piano by ear when he was four and started to have piano lessons when he was five. Since then, all David has wanted to be was a concert pianist and writes, “I can’t imagine doing anything else, as I live and breathe music; it is all that goes round my head all day.”

David is considered to be “one of the most outstandingly talented students” to have studied at St Mary’s Music School, and a sensitive and imaginative musician with exceptional technical facility. Some of his finest achievements are winning the Cathedral Class of the Moray Piano Competition in 2005, being awarded an ‘Excellent Plus’ by Yonty Solomon on three occasions, as part of St Mary’s annual assessment and winning the Directors’ Recital Prize at St Mary’s in 2007.

In 2005 David won the international ‘Young Theatre Organist of the Year’ competition in Los Angeles, and has since then been invited to play in concerts throughout the UK and the USA, where he has built up an enviable fan-base. He plays a wonderful version of Highland Cathedral on the theatre organ which goes down a treat in the States.

David performed the Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 at the 2008 St Mary’s Music School end of term concert, which was aired on BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Classics Unwrapped’.  The presenter of the programme commented that David was a ‘name to watch out for in the future.’

David was offered places and scholarships at three of the major music conservatoires. He accepted a place at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help David through his undergraduate degree in piano performance at the RAM, London.  David’s support has been continued into his second, and now third year of study. A few of the highlights at the start of his third year include his performance debut at St John’s, Smith Square, where he shared the stage with some top musicians, and a performance of music by Frank Zappa which was subsequently recorded on an official Academy CD.

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I am absolutely delighted to have received one of the Dewar Arts Awards…thank you very much for the very generous award.

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2008 Awardee: David Smith

I would like to thank you from the very bottom of my heart for the extremely generous award that has been given me to continue my studies at the Royal College of Music.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Fife’s David Smith started to learn the flute when he was 14 and after six month’s of playing decided that this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He auditioned for and was accepted by St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh initially to study alto saxophone, but it is his progress on the flute which has been outstanding. In 2008 David won the Wind Finals of the 2008 BBC Young Musician of the Year, progressing to the grand final of that prestigious competition in May 2008.

It is not surprising that his music tutors consider him to be an outstanding talent. During his four years at St Mary’s he distinguished himself on numerous occasions, was awarded scholarships to three British music conservatoires and won a major prize at the British Flute Society Competition.

David has been a member of the NYOS and the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and has taken part in masterclasses with Jaime Martin, Emmanuel Pahud and Eline van Esch. His career aim is to become a solo and orchestral flautist. He accepted a place at the Royal College of Music.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will assist David as he pursues his studies in flute performance at the RCM. David’s funding has been extended for a second year.

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I would like to thank you from the very bottom of my heart for the extremely generous award that has been given me to continue my studies at the Royal College of Music.

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2008 Awardee: Fiona Scott

I am very grateful for the generosity of the Dewar Arts Awards towards my studies next year at the RSAMD.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Lancashire-born Fiona started her studies at the RNCM in Manchester. She moved to Scotland in 2006 to pursue postgraduate opera studies at the RSAMD.

Fiona has the rare voice type of a dramatic soprano and has her sights set on specialising in the Germanic repertoire. She is still considered young for her voice type, which needs maturity of voice to develop to its full potential.

Fiona’s tutors describe her voice as ‘thrilling’. In 2008 she received the Wagner Society of Scotland Bayreuth Bursary which funded a study trip to Bayreuth, including attendance at 3 operas. She has had masterclasses with John Tomlinson and Jane Eglen which both demonstrated her potential as a dramatic soprano. She was also awarded the coveted RSAMD Governor’s Prize for Singing. In her first year at RSAMD Fiona sang the role of First Prioress in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helps Fiona during the final year on the RSAMD opera course.

Since the Award

During the year, Fiona performed in several concerts, participated in a master class with Wagnerian tenor, Ian Storey, and was a semi-finalist in the Bayreuth Wagner Competition. Her roles in RSAMD productions as Fata Morgana in The Love for Three Oranges and the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos were described as ‘a triumph’.

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I am very grateful for the generosity of the Dewar Arts Awards towards my studies next year at the RSAMD.

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2008 Awardee: Fraser Russell

The Award will greatly help me towards the cost and will allow me to get a far better instrument than I could afford without your assistance.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Fraser, who hails from Carnoustie, started to play the tuba at the age of 14. He was accepted onto the RSAMD Junior Academy which is designed to encourage young musicians of talent and is now in his second year studying music at the RSAMD proper.

Fraser’s ambition is to be an orchestral player. He has already worked for a number of Scottish and European orchestras, including the NYOS, European Brass Band and most recently with the St Petersburg Ballet orchestra on their recent European tour. He is a recent winner of the RSNO tuba apprenticeship scheme.

The combination of Fraser’s natural talent and self-drive has got him noticed at RSAMD. Whilst still only in his second year, he is frequently chosen to play principal tuba in the RSAMD’s first orchestra and its signature ‘Academy Brass’ ensemble, which has built a considerable reputation throughout Scotland.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has helped Fraser purchase a CC tuba, an expensive but essential part of a tuba player’s equipment.

Since the Award

After getting his new CC tuba, Fraser auditioned for, and won, an apprenticeship with the Scottish Opera, enabling him to sit with the brass section of the orchestra. He was told after his audition that part of his success was due to having the right instrument, that is one which could play the bigger, operatic repertoire. Fraser then moved on to an apprenticeship with the RSNO, confident in the knowledge that he had the right instrument to play the repertoire. This has all contributed to him gaining the confidence in the professional setting.

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The Award will greatly help me towards the cost and will allow me to get a far better instrument than I could afford without your assistance.

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2008 Awardee: Jack Fawcett

It is a fantastic opportunity to be offered a place to study percussion at the Royal College in London and this award is going to make that possible.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Jack started playing percussion at the age of 15 and made remarkable progress in a short space of time. For the last two years of his schooling, he studied percussion at the Aberdeen City Music School where he had a master class with Evelyn Glennie.

At the age of 16, Jack joined the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, which is a rare distinction. In 2008 he performed with NYO in the Roundhouse, London, Leeds Town Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, the Sage Gateshead, Snape Maltings and the London Barbican under Vasily Petrenko. He also played at the Royal Albert Hall under Anatoly Papanov as part of the BBC Proms.

Jack is also a member of the Aberdeen Youth Orchestra, the Grampian Youth Orchestra and the Aberdeen Sinfonietta. In 2008 he won the 18 and under percussion and snare drum classes in the North East of Scotland Music Festival and was runner up in the Ishoka Young Musician of the Year competition.

Jack’s ambition is to become a solo percussionist.  His teachers feel that he has the winning combination of huge talent and hard work to get him to the top of his profession.

How the Award Helped

Jack was offered a place to study percussion by a number of UK Conservatoires and chose to take up a place at the Royal College of Music in London. The Dewar Arts Award will help to cover the substantial expenses to study in London. His award has been extended for a second year, and subsequently for a third.

Since the Award

After a successful third year, Jack’s support has been extended into his final year.  His most exciting achievement last year was winning the extensive (worldwide) audition process to perform timpani in the latest Lexus car advertisement featuring Kylie Minogue. He doesn’t say whether he met the singer, but he did get the chance to work with some of the greatest drummers in the world, including The Taiko Drummers of Japan and Cold Steel Drum Line from North Carolina amongst many others.

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It is a fantastic opportunity to be offered a place to study percussion at the Royal College in London and this award is going to make that possible.

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2008 Awardee: Jemma McMonagle

Jemma and I were absolutely delighted to receive your letter informing us that [she] has been successful in her application to purchase a harp. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the trustees for making Jemma a very happy girl! (Eileen McMonagle, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 14
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Fourteen-year-old Jemma from Glasgow got involved in playing traditional music at the age of six.  She demonstrated a fine musicianship from the start  and has the ability to play a number of instruments with stunning sensitivity and maturity for her age.

Jemma is a talented fiddle player, having gained notable competitive success including several All-Britain titles in both solo and group competitions and a coveted All-Ireland gold medal in the Under 12 section. For the past two years, as part of ‘The Southside Fiddlers’ and at the invitation of well-known Irish fiddler, Liz Doherty, Jemma has performed at the Buncrana Festival in Co. Donegal.

It is on the small harp, however, that Jemma shines, her playing has been described as ‘magical’. Within a year of starting to learn the harp, she came second in the Scottish championships which qualified her to represent Scotland in the 2008 Great Britain championships. Since then, Jemma has played at many Celtic and Scottish traditional festivals and concerts, wowing the audiences with her talent.

How the Award Helped

The only barrier to her development is the lack of her own harp. The Dewar Arts Award will enable her to purchase a good-quality instrument.

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Jemma and I were absolutely delighted to receive your letter informing us that [she] has been successful in her application to purchase a harp. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the trustees for making Jemma a very happy girl! (Eileen McMonagle, mother)

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2008 Awardee: Jonathan Cheyne

I am delighted to accept your offer. Being given this money to buy a set of reel-pipes is a fantastic opportunity for me.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Jonathan, from Bishopbriggs, is the first member of his family to be musical. He learnt to play the Highland bagpipes at the age of 12 and quickly developed a passion to play and perform to the highest standard. He is now studying music at Scotland’s own conservatoire, the RSAMD.

Jonathan has a particular love for, and interest in, traditional music. Last year he won his first solo competition in Skye, and has played at many of the major traditional music concerts, including Celtic Connections and Piping Live. He is a member of the elite National Youth Pipe Band and was the Pipe Sergeant at the Soroptimist Convention in Glasgow.

Last year Jonathan performed with the 98th Highlanders, with Cantara, at an International Celtic Music festival.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Jonathan to buy a set of Fred Morrison reel-pipes which is an essential part of his equipment as a professional piper.

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I am delighted to accept your offer. Being given this money to buy a set of reel-pipes is a fantastic opportunity for me.

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2008 Awardee: June Naylor

This is such a great contribution to my new harp and I am extremely grateful.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born in Inverness and brought up on Skye, June learned the harp when she was 12 years old. June spent a year studying at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton before going on to study at Strathclyde University, where she is studying with renowned Celtic harpist Savourna Stevenson.

June is a member of award-winning band ‘Bodega’, winners of the BBC2 Young Folk Award. With the band’s increasing success, they travel extensively internationally to perform, and consequently June’s student-model harp is beginning to look careworn. June is considered to be a real talent and rising star in Traditional Music.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help June purchase a professional model harp with flight case.

Since the Award

After buying a new harp, June went on to study music at the University of Strathclyde where, on graduation, she won the prestigious Alexander Stone Award for excellence. She is a member of the successful five-piece band Bodega, winners of the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Winners and the 2009 Folk Band of the Year at the Trad Awards. The band tour worldwide and are currently working on their third album.

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This is such a great contribution to my new harp and I am extremely grateful.

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