2018 Awardee: Hugo Eedle

"Being supported by the Dewar Arts Awards has been invaluable towards my journey as a musician...it has enabled me to study abroad with a teacher who inspires me"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Dumfries, Hugo began playing cello aged 11. At 14, he successfully auditioned to Chetham’s School of Music, where he studied with Nicholas Jones.

Hugo went on to study with Thomas Carroll at the Royal College of Music, and at the Hochschule fur Musik und Tanz in Cologne, with Thomas Carroll. His studies have been supported by the Dewar Arts Awards and by the Holywood Trust.

Hugo has taken part in masterclasses with Karine Georgian, Guy Johnson, Robert Cohen, and Francis Gouten. He has performed with Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra at venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Milton Court, and Dukes Hall. He has performed many solo concerts as well as with his quartet, who won the Dewhust Torevell competition.

Hugo’s ambitions are to study a masters degree in Germany, and then perform as a soloist and chamber musician in and around Europe.

How the Award Helped

Hugo received support from the Dewar Arts Awards for his studies, enabling him to further his ambitions to become a professional musician.

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"Being supported by the Dewar Arts Awards has been invaluable towards my journey as a musician...it has enabled me to study abroad with a teacher who inspires me"

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2018 Awardee: Joseph Stevenson

"With the help of an extremely generous Dewar Arts Award I was able to afford the tuition fees...I would have really struggled without the financial assistance I received"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Joseph grew up in the small town of Moffat in Dumfriesshire, where he taught himself guitar from a young age. He began playing in bands and then went on to write and record his own music.

Having released his first original progressive rock EP in 2013, Joseph was accepted to study at the University of Edinburgh the following year. During his time at university, he wrote and recorded three more albums ranging from rock to traditional music.  As his skills progressed, Joseph began to focus on a career in music for film, TV and video games.

Joseph applied to the highly competitive Composing for Film and TV course at the National Film and Television School in London, and was one of only eight people accepted to start in 2019.

Joseph has shown himself to be an ambitious and innovative composer, who demonstrates originality, passion and profound talent.

How the Award Helped

Joseph’s Dewar Arts Award supported his studies at the NFTS.

Since the Award

In 2021, Joseph’s compositions appeared on the NFTS film Night of the Living Dread.  The film was nominated as a finalist for a BAFTA Los Angeles Best Student Film Award.

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"With the help of an extremely generous Dewar Arts Award I was able to afford the tuition fees...I would have really struggled without the financial assistance I received"

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2018 Awardee: Laura Wilson

"I feel extremely grateful to be supported by the Dewar Arts Awards...it has given me a further boost of motivation and determination to develop as a musician and therapist."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Laura began her musical journey aged five, learning piano with her grandmother. She soon began immersing herself in the classical world further, studying the viola and flute. This led her to continue her education at St. Mary’s Music School.

Laura was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (RNCM). Here, she performed and learned with some of the world’s leading musicians, including the resident orchestra for the Montepulciano Arts Festival in 2012 and 2013.

Afrer graduating, Laura worked as a freelance viola player across the UK and Europe, playing with a number of different ensembles. She became engaged in international charitable work, providing musical respite for vulnerable individuals.  This inspired her to share her music with a range of audiences, and so she travelled around the world busking with her viola.

Laura believes that music speaks to everybody. She continues to expand her musical boundaries by pushing herself out of her comfort zone as often as possible. She performs in a range of settings – from nursing homes, community centres, bars and cafes, exploring ways to engage audiences outside of the classical spectrum.  She also records samples for music producers and DJs.

Laura’s work volunteering for charities led her to become a music therapist. She has since seen the benefits of her work in Romania and Bulgaria. She is driven to help people through a therapeutic relationship with music, and aims to share her knowledge with people who are vulnerable in society.  She aims to work in settings such as prisons, with refugees, and in countries that have suffered as a result of war.

Having chosen to undertake formal qualifications in music therapy, Laura aims to use her skills in creative and imaginative ways. She feels confident that she has embarked on the right path, and that Music Therapy will continue to direct her passion, energy and focus.

How the Award Helped

Laura’s Award supported her in studing an MA in Music Therapy at the University of the West of England.

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"I feel extremely grateful to be supported by the Dewar Arts Awards...it has given me a further boost of motivation and determination to develop as a musician and therapist."

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2018 Awardee: Aidan Teplitzky

"I cannot describe how grateful and appreciative I am to receive such support from the Dewar Arts Awards. Without their incredible generosity, I would not have been able to continue my studies...it means the world to me that they saw value in my work and were willing to support me and my artistic development. I cannot thank them enough"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2018
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/aidan_teplitzky

Biography

Aidan was born in Australia and was raised in his parents’ restaurant in Sydney before moving to Scotland at age 4. He began learning music on his ‘fluorescent green recorder’ at age 6, and went on to learn the saxophone, piano and double bass, all of which he performed on as a student at the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It was here that he came to find an interest in composition under the tutelage of Audrey McPherson and Gareth Williams, which he then pursued by studying at the RCS under Dr Gordon McPherson.

Aidan has worked with organisations including the BBC SSO, the SCO, RCS MusicLab, the Glasgow New Music Expedition, the Glasgow Barons Orchestra, the Brodick Quartet and has worked with world-renowned performers Sinae Lee, Pascal Gallois, and traditional singer/songwriter Ainsley Hamill. Aidan is also an associate member of the LSO’s Soundhub and is the artistic director for the new music ensemble, The Hadit Collective.

Current projects include writing “Moving On”, a new work for Sinfonietta as part of winning the Craig Armstrong Prize in Composition from the RCS, planning a number of new concerts for The Hadit Collective, and working as the composer for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s production of A Midsummer Nights Dream directed by Ali De Souza.

Aidan is interested in drag, identity and pop culture.

How the Award Helped

Aidan’s Dewar Arts Award supported his postgraduate studies – an MMus in Composition – at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He writes:

“As an artist I want to make work that expresses my identity and can make people feel that they are not alone. Within my time studying at the RCS, I have come to understand my personal artistic voice and have begun intensively exploring the reasons why I write, the nature of my compositional language and how I can enable this greater sense of depth within my artistry.”

Since the Award

Update 2020:

Aidan continued to flourish at the RCS, and also took on the role of vice-president of the RCS Student’s Union.

Update 2024:

Aidan is currently completing an AHRC funded PhD at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire exploring working-class identity and experience in new interdisciplinary compositions.

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"I cannot describe how grateful and appreciative I am to receive such support from the Dewar Arts Awards. Without their incredible generosity, I would not have been able to continue my studies...it means the world to me that they saw value in my work and were willing to support me and my artistic development. I cannot thank them enough"

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2017 Awardee: Zayn Grieve

"It's honestly so kind as well as encouraging - I always felt that I was on the right path, that music and art was my thing - this just confirms it for me. Thank you. I think it's important to believe in yourself but most importantly to believe in one another."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.dewarawards.org/instagram.com/swvnofficial
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/swvnofficial

Biography

Zayn Grieve, widely known as SWVN “swan“ is a South African born rapper and artist based in South Glasgow. Heavily renowned as one of Scotland’s most versatile creatives and genre defying lyricists, SWVN resonates amongst this new exciting breed.

From a background of UKrap and grime, new up and coming artists are now spearheading the next generation in shaping Britain’s hip hop art culture and music scene.  They have their own authentic sound and style, fueled by honest emotion. Zayn Grieve is a shining example.

Driven and self-motivated, Zayn has overcome adversity to achieve a steady evolution in his progression as an artist. From humble beginnings and years of hard work, he self-funded rehearsal and recording sessions by selling his art, and collaborated with venues to gain a platform. He hosted his own events and delivered outreach to showcase local talent and create positive change, and in turn found the limelight. Perserverence and positivity are his strengths, and have ensured his success as an artist and a champion for new music.

https://www.dewarawards.org/facebook.com/SWVNofficial

How the Award Helped

Zayn’s Award supported him in his development as an artist, providing support and equipment to help him take his talents to the next level.

SWVN official music video for ‘Stay Up’ – Wavvy Music.

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"It's honestly so kind as well as encouraging - I always felt that I was on the right path, that music and art was my thing - this just confirms it for me. Thank you. I think it's important to believe in yourself but most importantly to believe in one another."

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2017 Awardee: Daniel Stroud

“I am tremendously grateful to receive the Dewar Award as it has made my dream of studying in London possible.”

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Daniel is an exceptionally talented, hard-working and ambitious musician who has always shown great passion for the violin.

Daniel began his studies at the age of nine with Justine Corr at his Primary school in South Queensferry, and then in 2014 he gained a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Department where he studied with Jane Lemoine.

At the Junior Conservatoire, Daniel led both the Symphony Orchestra and the String Ensemble for two years. He received Highly Commended in the Nan Christie String Prize in 2015 and in 2016 was runner up in the Concerto Competition.

Daniel performs regularly as a soloist. He has won the Waddell Medal in the Edinburgh Competition Festival and has given a solo recital at the Scottish Parliament for the First Ministers Portrait Exhibition. He has performed alongside Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham having been asked to arrange one of Phil Cunningham’s compositions.

Daniel has been a member of the first violin section of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, has performed at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, and in 2016 he co-led the Arts and Film Orchestra, performing the score to the 1927 silent film ’IT’ at the ISME Conference in Glasgow with Patrick Doyle.

In 2017, Daniel won a scholarship to study violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Philippe Honoré.

How the Award Helped

Daniel received an Award to support his musical studies on the four-year BMus (Hons) at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and his ambition to become a soloist and leader of a professional orchestra.

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“I am tremendously grateful to receive the Dewar Award as it has made my dream of studying in London possible.”

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2017 Awardee: Sophie Williams

“My award will allow me to focus on shaping myself and my future to become the musician I aspire to be...I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for making my dream possible!”

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://encoremusicians.com/Sophie-Williams-Violinist
 
 

Biography

Born in Edinburgh, Sophie Williams began learning violin at the age of three. In 2009 she gained a place at St. Mary’s Music School, where she proved herself to be an outstanding violinist and a highly sensitive musician.  She won a host of chamber music and string prizes, as well as several medals from the Edinburgh Competition Festival.

A keen ensemble player, Sophie has performed widely throughout the UK including several concerts in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  She has played an active role in the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, and was invited to perform at the BBC Proms with the Symphony Orchestra.

Sophie has a formidable work ethic and has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities.  She has been a leader of the NYOS Senior Orchestra, and throughout her final year at St. Mary’s led the school’s orchestra and string ensembles.

In 2016, Sophie successfully attained places at four music conservatoires around the UK.  She chose to continue her studies at the prestigious Royal College of Music, London.

How the Award Helped

Sophie’s award provided support for her studies at the Royal College of Music, affording her the freedom to fully apply herself to developing her exceptional skills as a musician.

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“My award will allow me to focus on shaping myself and my future to become the musician I aspire to be...I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for making my dream possible!”

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2017 Awardee: Calum Paterson

"I feel very honoured and privileged that the Dewar Arts Awards have decided to support my talent."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: , , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.calumpaterson.co.uk/
 
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/calumpaterson89

Biography

Calum Paterson is a sound designer, composer and theatre artist of exceptional talent.  When working on a production, he shows rigorous commitment to the ideas of the team, as well as contributing true flair, imagination and innovation.

A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Calum has worked extensively across Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond.  After designing the sound for a sell-out run of ‘Chess The Musical’ at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, he was hailed as a ‘rising star of the creative industries’ by The Lighting and Sound Industry Magazine.

Calum made his Off West End of London debut, as Sound No.1 for ‘Working A Musical’ at the Southwark Playhouse. The show received three nominations for Offies Awards including Best Musical Production.

Outside of theatre, Calum can be found producing music and sound for a variety of new media, including voiceovers and sound effects for film, tv and radio.

How the Award Helped

Calum’s Award allowed him to purchase essential new equipment, enabling him to develop his artistic form, create new and exciting work with collaborators across the UK, and offer an even greater range of sound design and compositional services.

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"I feel very honoured and privileged that the Dewar Arts Awards have decided to support my talent."

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2017 Awardee: Ali Watson

"I am extremely grateful for my Dewar Arts Award."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from the North Coast of Scotland, Ali went to school in Bearsden.  He discovered his passion for jazz while playing bass with the East Dunbartonshire Schools Jazz Orchestra, and was taught classical double bass and jazz double bass at the RCS Junior Conservatoire as a scholarship student.  In his sixth year of school he joined the Music School of Douglas Academy where he had classical lessons.

Ali has played with ensembles including the Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra (conducted by former Dewar Arts Awardee Alan Benzie), the Play On orchestra, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland at the BBC Proms, and a NYJOS Futures collaboration.

Described as a ‘truly special musician’ by his tutors, Ali combines a natural affinity for music with a genuine passion and exceptional skillset.  His ambition is to become one of the top jazz bass players in the UK and to play in a world-class contemporary ensemble.

“In twenty years of jazz education I have rarely come across a student as talented and diligent as Ali” – Tutor, Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

How the Award Helped

Ali’s Award supported him in developing his talents further, through a new instrument and study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

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"I am extremely grateful for my Dewar Arts Award."

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2017 Awardee: Mairi Grewar

"Without the support of the Dewar Awards I would have been unable to fund this degree...I am extremely grateful for their support."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.mairigrewarpiano.com/
 
 

Biography

Mairi Grewar is a pianist from St Andrews, who specialises in song accompaniment.

Mairi gained an undergraduate degree in Piano Performance, Cum Laude from Central Washington University.  During her time at CWU, Mairi served as accompanist for the Chamber Choir and repetiteur for CWU Opera Scenes concerts, including works from Pucinni’s La Bohème and Bizet’s Carmen.

Mairi has performed a wide range of repertoire, including piano solo works as well as extensive vocal and instrumental accompaniment. She has acted as Associate Accompanist for the University of St Andrews Music Department, as repetiteur for the Byre Opera, and as a teaching assistant for several music module classes.  She has played for regular concerts, choral engagements and chamber groups, and has recorded a selection of Messiaen’s vocal and chamber works for the University of St Andrews record label, Sanctiandree.

After CWU, Mairi went on to study the two year Guildhall Artist Masters Programme in Piano Accompaniment at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.  There she played in recitals and masterclasses across London, performing at the Barbican, St John’s Smith Square and Milton Court Concert Hall. She performed in masterclasses for numerous notable musicians and as part of the LSO Guildhall Artist Platforms. She graduated in 2017 with distinction.

Mairi gained the opportunity to further her studies on the prestigious Artist Diploma in Repetiteur Studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Opera School.

How the Award Helped

Mairi received an Award to support her Artist Diploma at the Guildhall’s Opera School. This course offers an intense introduction to the world of Opera and opportunity to work with some of the best singers in the UK.

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"Without the support of the Dewar Awards I would have been unable to fund this degree...I am extremely grateful for their support."

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