2007 Awardee: Stewart Webster

I came across an instrument which … I fell in love with instantly and have decided to purchase… I have been playing it constantly since and my new teacher assures me that it is most definitely good enough to go into the profession with.

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

Biography

Fife-born Stewart Webster comes from a very musical family and started to learn the piano and percussion at an early age. When he was 12 he included the violin in his repertoire. Like many aspiring young Scottish musicians, Stewart was accepted into the junior department of the RSAMD and progressed to the senior RSAMD where he is studying for a degree in music.

While still a student at RSAMD, Stewart auditioned for the RSNO’s professional access scheme. His ‘incredible lyrical and beautiful playing’ stood out from the other students for its maturity and individual style. His ability to communicate music to an audience has led many professional ensembles in Scotland to seek him out, and he plays regularly with the Alba String Quartet and the Scottish Ensemble. He also plays regularly with the Scottish Opera orchestra.

Stewart won the Eric Dodds Memorial Scholarship for the most outstanding violinist at the RSAMD.

While in his final year at RSAMD, Stewart won a place on the postgraduate diploma course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Already considered to be a violinist of high calibre, Stewart will use this further year of study to help him reach his full potential.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enables Stewart to purchase a violin of performance quality to last him into his professional life.

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I came across an instrument which … I fell in love with instantly and have decided to purchase… I have been playing it constantly since and my new teacher assures me that it is most definitely good enough to go into the profession with.

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2007 Awardee: Struan Thorpe

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

Biography

Multi-talented Struan is about to leave the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton to study for a degree in Scottish traditional music at the RSAMD, Glasgow.

Struan, from Argyll, has been passionate about music for as long as he can remember. His main musical instrument is the Highland bagpipes, but he also plays the traditional wooden flute, saxophone, the tin whistle and the djembe (African drum). On the bagpipes, Struan has had solo successes, winning competitions at the Inverary & District Junior Piping events, the Cowal Highland Games, the Argyllshire Gathering and the National Piping Centre’s Junior Piping Competition.

As a founding member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, Struan toured throughout Europe, performing live with Carlos Nunez and the Chieftains. This performance was recorded and ultimately became the biggest selling CD and DVD in Spain. He has also performed at Celtic Connections, including Donald Shaw’s ‘Harvest’. Whilst at Plockton, Struan recorded an album with fellow students, due for commercial release in 2007.

Struan’s aim is to become a professional musician after he graduates.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable him to buy a traditional wooden flute for his studies and future career.

Since the Award

Struan writes, “I have been accepted to study at the RSAMD on the BA Scottish music course. This has given me many opportunities to play my flute in various solo and group public performances. The most notable performance that I have played my new flute at was [in 2009] at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow where I was fortunate enough to share the stage with top traditional musicians such as Phil Cunningham, Finlay Napier, Gillian Napier, Iain MacFarlane and [former Dewar Arts Awardee] James Ross.”

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2007 Awardee: Yvonne Paterson

I’d just like to say how much I appreciate [the award]. It will make a huge difference to me in my musical career.

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

Biography

Hailing from Paisley, Yvonne took up playing the flute at school at the age of 9. She auditioned for and was accepted into the Music School of Douglas Academy where she continued her musical studies. She then went on to study music at the Royal College of Music in London, graduating in 2006 with a first class degree.

While at the RCM, Yvonne was principal flute in the College’s Sinfonietta and Symphony Orchestras and with them had the opportunity to perform at the BCC Proms, the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, the Concerthaus Berlin and the Birmingham City Hall. Yvonne regularly performs in a trio of guitar, piano and flute.

Yvonne played solo flute with pop group ‘McFly’ on their 2005 UK Arena tour and on their 2005 Comic Relief single. In 2006 she was invited to perform at the renowned BASBWE Festival as a soloist in the Marco Putz Concerto.

Currently, Yvonne is on a scholarship-funded place on the Masters Course at the RSAMD, Glasgow.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Yvonne to purchase a professional piccolo (small flute).

Since the Award

Subsequently, Yvonne auditioned for, and won apprenticeships with, Scottish Opera and BBC SSO, which led to her first professional engagement as principal piccolo for the BBC SSO. Competition and scholarship successes include being finalist in the 2009 Royal Overseas League Music Competition (Wind Section), 2nd prize overall in the 2008 “Performing Australian Music Competition”, the RSAMD Governors’ Chamber Music Prize and John McGregor Flute Prize for outstanding achievement.

Yvonne writes, “I owe Dewar Arts Awards huge thanks because my dream of playing in a professional orchestra wouldn’t have come true without the help you gave.”

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I’d just like to say how much I appreciate [the award]. It will make a huge difference to me in my musical career.

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2007 Awardee: Lynsey Payne

I find it hard to express how delighted and excited I am about this award. I am truly grateful to you for your support.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.sax-ecosse.co.uk
 
 

Biography

Lynsey, who hails from Cumbernauld, started learning to play the saxophone when she was eleven. She attended the Douglas Academy of Music where she had lessons in the saxophone with Josef Pacewicz. When she progressed to the RSAMD, Glasgow, she continued to study with Joseph Pacewicz.
Lynsey graduated with a BA (Hons), specialising in saxophone and wooden flute. She is particularly passionate about chamber music and has played in a number of saxophone quartet line-ups over the past few years.

In 2005, while still a student, Lynsey won the prestigious Governor’s Recital Prize in Chamber Music and the Mary D Adams Prize for Chamber Music with her quartet ‘Sax-Ecosse’. (For more details, see www.sax-ecosse.co.uk) In 2006 ‘Sax-Ecosse’ performed for Bill Clinton during his visit to Glasgow in May of that year, and for the Lord Provost of Glasgow, with guest of honour, Cherie Blair.

Thanks to a Scottish Arts Council grant, Lynsey has been taking lessons in Switzerland for the past year and a half with Bruce Weiberger of the world-famous Rascher Saxophone Quartet, during which time she transformed herself into ‘one of the finest baritone saxophone players in Europe.’

How the Award Helped

Lynsey is being assisted to pursue a Masters specialising in baritone saxophone performance at SUNY, Fredonia, USA.

Since the Award

Lynsey writes, “[I have always had the] intention to study further after my degree, away from Scotland, to get a different perspective on learning and teaching and I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Awards who have helped make this happen.”

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I find it hard to express how delighted and excited I am about this award. I am truly grateful to you for your support.

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2006 Awardee: Lauren MacColl

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.laurenmaccoll.co.uk
EMAIL:lauren@laurenmaccoll.co.uk
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/laurenmaccoll1

Biography

In the words of one of the leading teachers of Scottish Traditional Music, Lauren is “quite simply the best I have ever seen”.

Lauren was brought up in Fortrose in the Black Isle and is musically rooted in the traditional music of the Highlands.

She made an impressive start to her early music career by winning the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Musician of the Year award, while still a student at the RSAMD in Glasgow. Her success highlighted not only her technical ability, but an emotional maturity well beyond her years.

After winning the prestigious title, Lauren made a notable appearance at the Cambridge Folk Festival, considered to be the jewel among the international folk festivals.

The next logical step in her burgeoning career was to produce a marketable CD, which would also afford her the opportunity to experiment and grow musically.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards enabled Lauren to produce a debut CD to showcase her exceptional musical talent.

Since the Award

Lauren’s debut CD, “When Leaves Fall”, was launched in March 2007.  A subsequently album “Strewn with Ribbons” was released in May 2009. In late 2009 she was nominated for the “Instrumentalist of the Year” at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.  For further information, see www.laurenmaccoll.co.uk.

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2006 Awardee: Adam Clifford

I would like to thank the trustees for the generous Dewar Award. I am delighted to accept

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Adam is one of the many talented former pupils of the City of Edinburgh Music School at Broughton supported by an Award.

In 2003 he won the John Macleod award for composition at the Edinburgh Competition Festival. In 2004 he reached the percussion finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition and in the same year went on to win the Traves Trophy for a half-hour recital, open to all instruments.

He is currently studying music at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he won an entrance scholarship. For three years Adam has performed in the resident orchestra at the MusicaRiva Festival in Northern Italy, with members of La Scala, Milan. He is also a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, their contemporary music ensemble NYOS Futures and Camerata Scotland.

As well as being an accomplished orchestral percussionist already, Adam’s real passion is for solo percussion.

Adam is considered to be a gifted, thoughtful and original musician who has the potential to reach the top of his field.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is helping towards Adam’s considerable maintenance expenses whilst a student in London.

Since the Award

Adam completed his undergraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music with first-class honours. Adam’s final year was packed with ‘great and new experiences’, during which he performed his first professional solo recital in London.

At the end of the year, Adam was awarded the Meaker Fellowship by the Academy which involves various responsibilities within the percussion department. Adam’s tutors describe him as ‘talented and outstanding’ and view his undergraduate years as ‘a total success story’.

10/11/13 – Adam performs with composer Steve Reich. Further details here.

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I would like to thank the trustees for the generous Dewar Award. I am delighted to accept

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2006 Awardee: Amelie Addison

Thank you again for the award, every day I appreciate more and more what a wonderful opportunity it is to be here. I’m making every effort to make the very best of it in every way

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Amelie started playing the cello as a child when her lessons were subsidised by the local authority and her cello was borrowed from the school.

Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, Amelie came to Scotland in 2001 to study at the RSAMD, Glasgow.
In her third year Amelie took up the baroque cello, which was particularly suited to her style of playing, and became the premier practitioner of the instrument at the School.

She has been accepted onto the masters course at Trinity College, London to study baroque cello further. Her tutor at RSAMD sees in Amelie a strong and clear desire to communicate through music and believes that she has something worthwhile to say.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is helping towards Amelie’s accommodation costs at Trinity College.

Since the Award

In 2010 Amelie graduated with a Master of Music in Baroque cello, with distinction. She continues to work as a freelance performer and teacher.

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Thank you again for the award, every day I appreciate more and more what a wonderful opportunity it is to be here. I’m making every effort to make the very best of it in every way

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2006 Awardee: Arlene Macfarlane

Having the Award will now allow me to buy the best trombone on the market that I will use for the rest of my career. It is a very exciting prospect

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.thistlebrass.com
 
 

Biography

From West Lothian, Arlene began playing the trombone at 11 and hasn’t looked back since. She joined a local brass band and in 1996 joined the brass department of the Junior RSAMD.  She was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland for four years.

Arlene went on to study music at the RSAMD, Glasgow.  She graduated with a first, passed the Postgraduate Diploma in Performance with distinction and continued on to study for a Masters Degree in Performance, which she also gained with distinction.

Arlene has distinguished herself further by winning several prestigious competitions. As part of a brass quintet, she won the Mary D Adams Chamber Music Prize in 2003 and an MBF Ensemble Award in 2005. As a soloist, her prizes and awards include the 2003 Governor’s Recital Prize for Brass, the Robert Crief Memorial Prize for Brass and the prestigious Charles Leggett Award in 2004, which is competed for annually by the best brass players from all the UK conservatoires.

Arlene has worked with most of the leading Scottish orchestras and has appeared as a soloist on several occasions.  She is a founding member of Thistle Brass which is fast making a name for itself as one of Scotland’s most exciting and innovative young chamber ensembles.

Arlene achieved all of this playing the trombone her parents bought her when she was 12. For further information, see www.thistlebrass.com.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award bought Arlene a performance quality trombone.

Since the Award

Since receiving her Award Arlene has toured Texas, Washington, Lithuania, Germany, Cayman Islands and Holland. With Thistle Brass she released a debut CD in 2008 and now has a busy schedule of concerts and workshops. Arlene writes that “my instrument now works with me rather than against me. I now know what works best and what doesn’t. Having the freedom and flexibility to make subtle changes makes a real difference. Certain technical things on the trombone are now easier to achieve with a high quality instrument.”

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Having the Award will now allow me to buy the best trombone on the market that I will use for the rest of my career. It is a very exciting prospect

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2006 Awardee: Barbara Misiewicz

I would like to express my strong appreciation … Not only will the award make me challenge myself to work towards a great progress in cello playing but also let me focus concentration on my studies.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Barbara Misiewicz was born and brought up in Elblag, Poland. She came to this country in order to pursue her studies in cello at the RSAMD, Glasgow.

When she was seven, Barbara began studying cello with Russian cellist Oleg Studnicki at Poland’s national music school. From the start she impressed as a young musician of enormous talent and potential. As she was growing up, she competed successfully in many national and international competitions, including the Justus Johann Friedrich Dotzauer International Competition in Dresden.

Barbara, aged 20, has already impressed her Scottish teachers with her innate musicality, beautiful tone and rare gift to communicate with her audience. She recently performed solo at the opening of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and at the Mozart Festival in Schwetzingen, Germany. In December 2006 she joined the Scottish Ensemble winter tour of Scotland. In January 2007 Barbara played with the Scottish Opera orchestra for performances of Ravel and Puccini operas.

How the Award Helped

Shortly after she arrived in Glasgow, a family tragedy threatened to cut short her studies and possibly deprive us of an exceptionally talented musician. The Dewar Arts Award is helping to support Barbara while she finishes her music degree.

Since the Award

As an undergraduate, Barbara won the Iain D Watt Award and the Dunbar Gerber Competition at the RSAMD and the John McInulty Prize for Orchestral String Playing. In 2009 she won the Craxton Memorial Prize as well as an award from the Elblag Cultural Society.

Barbara graduated with a degree in music in 2009 and is now carving out a career for herself as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. She writes that “coming from Poland, I heard so much about great British orchestras and their ways of working: playing with a blended sound and being incredibly fast at reading music. It is fantastic to experience it from within a British orchestra itself.” Barbara has been invited to the final round of 2010 auditions for the European Union Youth Orchestra.

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I would like to express my strong appreciation … Not only will the award make me challenge myself to work towards a great progress in cello playing but also let me focus concentration on my studies.

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2006 Awardee: Christina Lawrie

The interaction of the creative arts fascinates me and it is this that drew me to Das Jahr. My love of literature and drama is something I like to bring into my playing, I think audiences appreciate that

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.christinalawrie.co.uk
 
 

Biography

Christina studied first at Chetham’s School of Music and then went on to read music at Trinity College, Cambridge.  After graduation, the Royal College of Music awarded her a Leverhulme Postgraduate Studentship to study with Yonty Solomon.  Christina also worked with Vanessa Latarche at the Royal Academy of Music.

In 2005 Christina was invited to perform recitals at both the Wigmore Hall, London as part of the Monday Platform Series for “the very best emerging artists” and The Purcell Room, London as part of the South Bank Centre’s Fresh Young Musician’s platform for “today’s most talented new musicians”. Both recitals received critical acclaim.

In the same year, other engagements included two live BBC Radio 3 broadcasts, a performance at Bellapais International Festival in Cyprus, and recitals in the new Perth concert hall and at St George’s Bristol.

At the Purcell Room recital, Christina, a native of Broughty Ferry, performed work by Fanny Mendelssohn, Das Jahr, and was thrilled to discover later that Fanny’s great-great-great-granddaughter was in the audience. Christina has won a host of prizes on a national and international level, including being a prizewinner at the Marsala International Piano Competition and winning the RAM’s Postgraduate Piano Recital Prize.

For further information see www.christinalawrie.co.uk.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped to cover Christina’s considerable expenses in relation to the recitals.

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The interaction of the creative arts fascinates me and it is this that drew me to Das Jahr. My love of literature and drama is something I like to bring into my playing, I think audiences appreciate that

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