2007 Awardee: Lauren Stark

This means a great deal, not only to Lauren, but the whole family and the award is an enormous support to assist her to continue with her instruments. (Laurie Stark, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 12
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Twelve-year-old Lauren, from Airdrie, won the Kathleen McCartney music award for the community in 2007. She and her brother Declan, also a Dewar Arts Awardee, come from a musical family, inspired by her father who plays five instruments. Lauren plays both clarinet and piano and is a member of the junior concert band, the choir and the clarinet ensemble at school.

Lauren first started to learn to play the clarinet when she was eight, although she could not stretch her fingers far enough to reach all the keys. She switched to learning to play the piano until her hands had grown. She was accepted into the RSAMD Junior Academy when she was nine years old.

Although still young, Lauren shows considerable potential as a musician and is a member of a number of trios and quartets in the RSAMD Youthworks programme.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the fees for the Youthworks programme to enable Lauren to continue her musical studies.

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This means a great deal, not only to Lauren, but the whole family and the award is an enormous support to assist her to continue with her instruments. (Laurie Stark, mother)

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2007 Awardee: Louise McMonagle

This is absolutely fantastic news, and thank you so much..

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

When Glasgow-born Louise started learning the ‘cello as a child of six, she little imagined then that it would become her career. But, as she says, thanks to great teachers and a lot of hard work she has seen the diversity of life in the music profession. She has performed across four continents to audiences in all kinds of venues ranging from bars, clubs and living rooms (with pets roaming free) through to the world’s finest concert halls.

At the age of 11, Louise won a place at the Douglas Academy Music School, where she was the fastest advancing student her ‘cello teacher had taught. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, graduating with a first-class honours and receiving the Dip RAM for outstanding final recital. In 2001, Louise won the Allie Cullen Memorial Award for best performance overall at the Glasgow Music Festival.

Louise was accepted onto the postgraduate course in performance at the music academy in Basel, Switzerland. Entry onto this course is highly competitive, and only three ‘cellists were accepted. She is considered a rare talent who has the ability to reach the top of her profession.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will provide essential finance to help Louise pursue postgraduate studies in Basel.

Since the Award

Louise graduated with a Konzertdiplom with distinction. She writes that in addition to studying with cellist, Thomas Demenga, she was also able to “take baroque cello lessons with Petr Skalka, quartet lessons with renowned quartet players Rainer Schmitt and Walter Levin, improvisation lessons with Walter Fendrich and modern chamber music lessons with Marcus Weiss.” She formed the modern music cello trio “Trio Riot”, with whom she continues to perform, and reached the semi finals of the international cello competition, Gianni Bergamo Classic Music Award.

Louise now lives and works in London. She is a member of the contemporary music group, Ensemble Amorpha, and is recording an album with the jazz ensemble, Tangent.

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This is absolutely fantastic news, and thank you so much..

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2007 Awardee: Lynsey McRitchie

Thank you very much! I am delighted.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From Stornoway in the Western Isles, Lynsey has been involved in music making in her local community for years. She was a founder and key member of the local folk group Teine, which has performed throughout Scotland and Ireland. Recently they recorded an impressive debut CD, on which Lynsey sings, plays fiddle, piano and clàrsach and arranged some of the tracks.

Multi-talented Lynsey has won classes on keyboard, piano, clàrsach and fiddle at local and national Mod competitions. Teine have also won prizes at National Mod competitions. In 2005 she won the Western Isles Young Musician of the Year competition and in 2007 she was invited to play clàrsach for the First Minister in Ann Tanntair and in Orkney.

Lynsey is currently continuing her music studies at Glasgow’s RSAMD and her long-term ambition is to pursue a career in music performance, specialising in Scottish traditional music.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Lynsey to buy a clarsach.

Since the Award

Since receiving her new harp, Lynsey writes that her playing has gone from strength to strength.  “I feel very privileged to have received a Daughter of Dewar award and realise that it has helped, and will continue to help, my progress on the harp as long as I keep playing and for this I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

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Thank you very much! I am delighted.

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2007 Awardee: Mairead McManus

Thank you so much for my Dewar Arts Award, I am over the moon!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born and brought up in Scotland, Mairéad is a winner of many All-Britain and All-Ireland traditional music titles.

Mairéad began traditional music classes by learning the penny whistle. She soon moved onto the concert flute to become both a fine soloist as well as an integral part of ceili bands. She is now an accomplished musician, both in whistle and flute, winning gold at the All-Ireland championships.

Mairéad is considered to be one of the most outstanding players of Irish traditional music of her generation. In 2004 she was invited by Capercaillie’s Donald Shaw to perform in his Harvest musical which opened Celtic Connections that year.

Studying for a Masters at the prestigious University of Limerick will be the ideal preparation for Mairéad’s future as a professional musician.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is helping to fund Mairéad to study Irish Traditional Music Performance at the University of Limerick.

Since the Award

Mairead gained an MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick.

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Thank you so much for my Dewar Arts Award, I am over the moon!

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2007 Awardee: Maria Kozlova

I cannot thank you enough for granting the award. It will provide a unique opportunity to continue my studies at an internationally acclaimed opera school, where I can further develop my vocal talents.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Russian-born Maria Kozlova came to Glasgow after graduating in 2005 from the St Petersburg conservatoire in choral conducting with distinction. While still in St Petersburg, Maria auditioned for the RSAMD to enter the preliminary opera studies course. After two years, she won a coveted place on their Opera Course.

Maria has a strong lyric soprano voice of quality, substance and power. With a winning combination of talent, determination and potential, it is considered that she will develop a career of some distinction as a solo artist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help fund Maria for the first year of the Opera Course.

Since the Award

In her first year, Maria sang the role of Titania in the RSAMD production of Eugene Onegin at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, winning excellent reviews. In the final production of the academic year, she was selected to cover leading role Blanche in Poulenc’s Dialogue of the Carmelites. Maria’s award has been confirmed for a second and final year.

Maria successfully graduated Master of Opera with distinction from RSAMD and won the Ye Cronies Opera Award. She is currently continuing to perfom in RSAMD productions and has been offered a coveted summer 2010 contract with the Glyndebourne Opera Company. Maria plans to participate in the major international singing contests – watch out for her name.

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I cannot thank you enough for granting the award. It will provide a unique opportunity to continue my studies at an internationally acclaimed opera school, where I can further develop my vocal talents.

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2007 Awardee: Martin Murphy

I would like to emphasise and highlight the fact that this is a huge help to me and my studies at the RSAMD.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Lanarkshire’s own Martin Murphy started to learn to play the horn at school when he was ten years old and has since played on a borrowed instrument. Martin has a clear career path in music in mind and sees himself one day in ‘the principal chair in one of the best orchestras in the world’.

At an early age, Martin showed his natural musical talent and rapidly developed this talent at school to become one of the best students his music teacher had encountered in 17 years of teaching. He has played in many well-known ensembles in Scotland including the West of Scotland Schools Concert Band, Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra, and also in orchestras throughout the UK, including Northern Symphonia. As well as playing a mean horn, Martin also plays the piano at competitive level. He has formed his own wind orchestra that regularly plays at Christmas charity and other concerts.

To his delight, Martin has been accepted by Glasgow’s RSAMD to study for a degree in music. His future ambition is to continue postgraduate study in London or abroad and work with the best orchestras in the world.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has enabled Martin to buy a professional standard French horn.

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I would like to emphasise and highlight the fact that this is a huge help to me and my studies at the RSAMD.

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2007 Awardee: Maureen McMullan

I was absolutely delighted to receive the news of the award.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Brought up in Coatbridge, Maureen studied voice and piano from the age of 12. She went on to study music at Strathclyde University, gaining a first class degree in Applied Music, winning the ‘Sir Alexander Stone Prize for Excellence in Performance’ for her final recital.

Maureen has trained in a range of styles, from classical, musical theatre, jazz and contemporary. In 2007 she performed at the 41st Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, where she beat off competition from thousands of singers worldwide to compete in the semi-final of the Shure Vocal competition. She was the only UK singer to reach the final eight.

Acclaimed Scottish jazz musician, Tommy Smith, describes Maureen as a ‘phenomenal singer … [whose] … voice embraces jazz, blues, gospel, and soul and transmits emotions like few other singers.’ As a singer/songwriter and backing vocalist, Maureen has performed at many major Scottish music festivals, including the Edinburgh ‘Fringe’, Celtic Connections and the Glasgow Jazz Festival, and has worked with some of Britain’s most influential contemporary musicians. In 2008 she joined the Scottish Jazz Orchestra as the singer on their Jazz Toons tour.

After working hard as a full-time professional singer for some years, Maureen has a strong desire to expand her knowledge of music and develop her creativity as a singer/songwriter. She has been awarded a partial scholarship to study for a Diploma in Professional Performance at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will provide financial assistance to enable her to take up this fantastic opportunity.

In 2008, Maureen once more was selected for the semi-final of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Shure Vocal Competition, in Switzerland. She is the only UK entrant to make the final 12 worldwide. The president of the jury this year is jazz/soul legend Patti Austin.

Since the Award

Maureen made the most of her opportunities while at Berklee, graduating with top honours (Summa Cum Laude) majoring in song-writing. Her tutors at Berklee have tipped her as the one who will make it.  Maureen was invited to sing during the Commencement Ceremony of her graduation. Afterwards Barbra Streisand, no less, came back stage to congratulate her and encourage her to continue singing. Maureen has gained an internship with the world-famous Warner/Chappell house in Nashville which has some major names on its label. Maureen writes, “Sometimes it is hard to put into words how much this experience has completely changed my musical horizons and perspectives. Doors are opening up for me now that I could never have imagined..I have only positive things to say about the Dewar Awards who believed in me from start to finish and allowed me to follow my dreams.”

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I was absolutely delighted to receive the news of the award.

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2007 Awardee: Michael Segaud

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Perth, Michael gained a music scholarship to Strathallan School in Perthshire and from that time onwards has devoted himself to becoming a professional musician. Michael says of himself that music is his passion and that he could not even dream of doing anything else.

At school, Michael took a major part in every musical production and led the School Symphony Orchestra in his final year. As a youngster, he played with NCOS, was a student at the RSAMD Youthworks and a choral scholar at Perth Cathedral. Since 2001 Michael has been part of NYOS and the prestigious Camerata Scotland, and since 2006 he has played with NYOS Futures.

Michael is currently a student at the Royal Northern College of Music on an entrance scholarship where he is studying viola. He has impressed as a talented, imaginative and individual musician. His development is being hampered by the lack of a good instrument.

Since the Award

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Michael to purchase a professional standard viola.

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2007 Awardee: Miriam-Rose McFadyen

I really appreciate that the trustees felt I was worthy for an award and it will be such a huge help to me and my family

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Dundee-born Miriam-Rose started to learn the violin when she was 12 and quickly showed natural talent. In those days, she played on a borrowed violin. When she was 16 she successfully auditioned for the BMus course at Glasgow’s RSAMD. By this time, she was playing for Scotland’s String and Youth Orchestras and was the youngest member of the prestigious Camerata Scotland.

After graduation Miriam-Rose continued at RSAMD to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance, helped by a full scholarship from SAAS, and she is currently continuing on their MMus course. She has played with all of the Academy’s orchestras and was co-leader of the Symphony Orchestra. She rates playing under the baton of the ‘inspirational’ Vladimir Ashkenazy as one of her musical highlights to date.

Miriam-Rose’s ambition is to play professionally in an orchestra and to that end she won a place on the RSAMD/Scottish Opera apprenticeship scheme. She has since played professionally with both Scottish Opera and the RNSO. Miriam-Rose has also been noticed as ‘an exciting and impressive young soloist’ by music critics whom she has impressed with the combination of excellent technique with an instinctive musicality and lovely tone.

Miriam-Rose has been playing on an old Italian violin on loan from the RSAMD since her second year of undergraduate study. Now it is time for her to have her own professional standard instrument.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Miriam-Rose to buy a contemporary Scottish-made Ewen Thompson violin, which is a high-quality violin at an affordable price for musicians at the start of their professional career.

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I really appreciate that the trustees felt I was worthy for an award and it will be such a huge help to me and my family

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2007 Awardee: Naomi Berrill

Without the financial assistance of the Dewar Awards I would have been unable to ... attend this extremely inspiring course which has broadened greatly my views on music and helped to shape my musical path.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Galway-born Naomi was taught both classical and folk music from an early age and had her first cello lesson at the age of seven. Now based in Glenrothes, Naomi first studied music at Glasgow University before going on to the RSAMD to major in cello performance with Robert Irvine.

Currently studying cello performance in Italy, Naomi excels in many musical genres and is equally talented at classical, jazz and folk. In Italy she has been taught by Francesco Dillon and Enrico Bronzi and taken masterclasses from Rostropovich. Her talent and eclectic musical knowledge greatly impressed all these tutors.

Naomi performs with the Italian Contemporary Music Ensemble ‘Musicamorfosi’ as cellist and vocalist, and she has worked as jazz cellist with Italian jazz trumpeter Giovanni Falzone. She has performed in a cello-guitar duo with noted Scottish classical guitarist, Neil Wilson, at many festivals, including the Edinburgh International Fringe.

Naomi was invited to participate in a 3-week jazz and experimental music course in Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. She is one of 14 musicians from Europe, together with musicians from America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia who have been specially selected for this prestigious course.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards provided the funding to enable Naomi to attend the Banff Centre for the Arts course in jazz and experimental music.

Since the Award

Naomi writes of the course at the Banff Centre that “I felt as if I had been given a new set of ears. I learnt to listen critically to music in a new way, to understand harmony better and play from musical scores that often contained no traditional musical notation at all.” She was invited to organise a successful evening of jazz and folk fusion with the students on the course.

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Without the financial assistance of the Dewar Awards I would have been unable to ... attend this extremely inspiring course which has broadened greatly my views on music and helped to shape my musical path.

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