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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2017 Awardee: Caighlan Smith

"As the author of five published YA Fantasy novels, this is a dream program for me...It has been an amazing experience and will have a lasting impact on me as a writer. Receiving the Dewar Award has enabled me to continue with my studies in Glasgow and, for that, I will be eternally grateful."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Caighlan Smith is a Saltire Scholar at the University of Glasgow, where she is studying for a Masters in Fantasy Literature. This programme gives her a unique opportunity to showcase her talents both as a creative writer and an aspiring academic.

Born in Canada in 1994, Caighlan decided she wanted to become a novelist at age 9.  At age 13 she wrote a 550 page fantasy novel. At 17 she wrote her third novel, ‘Hallow Hour’. It was signed with a publisher and released in 2013.

Caighlan writes Young Adult dystopian fiction; a fusion of science fiction, fantasy and classical myth. Her strong sense of characterization and formal inventiveness has drawn excellent reviews from critics on both sides of the Atlantic.

Caighlan was a finalist for the Dell Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Science Fiction & Fantasy Writing in 2015 and again in 2016. She has written 19 novels and 2 novellas.

Living in Scotland is having a rich and distinct influence on Caighlan’s writing.  Her sixth published novel, the sequel to ‘Children of Icarus’, will be released in the UK by Curious Fox and in North America by Switch Press in 2018.

How the Award Helped

Caighlan received an Award to support her in her studies on the Master of Letters in Fantasy at the University of Glasgow – the first and only postgraduate fantasy program in the world.

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"As the author of five published YA Fantasy novels, this is a dream program for me...It has been an amazing experience and will have a lasting impact on me as a writer. Receiving the Dewar Award has enabled me to continue with my studies in Glasgow and, for that, I will be eternally grateful."

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2017 Awardee: Emily Norris

"The Dewar Arts Awards' incredible generosity and support have opened up a world of opportunity to me and will allow me to realise my full potential and aspiration of becoming a professional singer. Thank you!"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
EMAIL:emnorris@hotmail.co.uk
 

Biography

Born in the Scottish Borders, Emily is a third-generation musician who began singing as a teenager under the tutelage of Patricia MacMahon.

As a youngster, Emily discovered her affinity with opera as it merges her two greatest passions – music and drama – fuelling her ambition to enter a career as a professional vocalist with the ultimate goal of becoming an operatic soprano. Whilst still at school and preparing for her undergraduate studies, she was winner of the regional final of the Rotary Young Vocalist of the Year Competition and a member of the Scottish Chamber Choir.

In 2013, Emily began her Bachelor of Music with Honours degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she was taught by Helen Lawson. During her undergraduate studies, Emily regularly sang in live performances, commercial recordings, radio broadcasts, fully-staged operatic productions and opera scenes.

She has performed as a soloist and chorus member for a number of vocal ensembles including Les Sirènes Female Chamber Choir (BBC Choir of the Year 2012), the RSNO Chorus and the RCS Voices in major venues including Edinburgh’s Usher Hall and Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. She has performed as a chorus member in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s latest production of Die Fledermaus and sung roles including Susanna from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Carolina from Cimarosa’s Il matriomonio segreto.

Emily’s other musical interests include Kodály Musicianship – a philosophy that focuses on the use of the voice. Emily discovered the value of this educational method when she was selected to take part in an Erasmus Exchange in the Netherlands and plans to complete her Kodály training as part of her Master of Music degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

How the Award Helped

Emily’s Award helped to fund her Master of Music (Vocal Studies) degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This two-year course offers world-class tuition, performance opportunities in major venues, and opportunity to further develop vocal technique.

Performing in Die Fledermaus at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

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"The Dewar Arts Awards' incredible generosity and support have opened up a world of opportunity to me and will allow me to realise my full potential and aspiration of becoming a professional singer. Thank you!"

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2017 Awardee: Peter Thornton

“I am so grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for helping me fund my living in London. I truly feel that I have the space to grow into the musician I know I am. Thank you.”

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS:
WEBSITE:https://www.causewaytrio.com/
 
 

Biography

Growing up in the Highlands of Scotland, Peter began his journey as a musician by singing in school choirs and picking up the trombone aged 10. A year later he was given a guitar as a Christmas present, and began taking lessons on that too. Joining every band, club and organisation available to him at the time, Peter was fed musically with a wide array of styles whilst playing with the Highlands’ concert and wind bands, big bands and symphony orchestras for young musicians.

After a successful audition for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland; Peter gained tuition and guidance which would influence his approach to making music with others, and deepen his appreciation of music as an art form. During his final years of school, Peter developed a love of Scottish traditional music and co-founded his first group, the Causeway Trio.  Their collective enjoyment of trad spurred them on to write, record and tour together.

Gaining a coveted place to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Peter had the opportunity to perform alongside many inspiring groups and individuals all over the world.  He became a sought-after and versatile musician in classical, jazz, Scottish traditional and early music. He continues to grow as an artist, harnessing his passion to create true and honest performances of the utmost quality.

How the Award Helped

Peter’s Award supported him in his training at the Guildhall, allowing him to focus entirely on his studies and personal development as a musician.

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“I am so grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for helping me fund my living in London. I truly feel that I have the space to grow into the musician I know I am. Thank you.”

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2017 Awardee: Shyvonne Ahmmad

"Supporting myself through the degree was going to be a massive obstacle. My Dewar Arts Award has been pivotal in me pursuing my aspirations...words cannot describe how thankful I am to be able to prioritise my learning...it is a life-changing privilege."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

From a young age Shyvonne Ahmmad has proven herself to be a young actor of outstanding ability. Her talent and dedication has brought exciting opportunities her way, and she is driven to succeed.

Shyvonne was born in Stoke on Trent, but spent most of her childhood in Perth. From an early age she was enthused by film, television and theatre, and nurtured a desire to be part of that industry in the future.  SHe pursued this ambition by attending the Acting and Performance course at Edinburgh College and graduated with an HND.

Her time in Edinburgh afforded opportunities to play some iconic roles in theatre, such as Medea and Wendla from Spring Awakening. It also gave her the impetus to continue learning her craft, and on graduation Shyvonne gained a place on the BA Acting course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

In 2017, Shyvonne was chosen from more than 90 auditionees to take the lead role in ‘Snowflake’.  A new graduate ensemble production, Snowflake was co-created by the Scottish Drama Training Network and the Pleasance Theatre Trust, directed by Mark Thomson and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Shyvonne was hailed as “an extraordinarily talented actor”, whose performance was “compelling, touching, charismatic and palpably ‘realistic'”.

She says that all of these experiences have strengthened her passion and dedication for the arts, and her ambition is such that she is “looking to shoot for the moon”.

How the Award Helped

Shyvonne’s Award supported her during her studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Scottish Drama Training Network – The Snowflake

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"Supporting myself through the degree was going to be a massive obstacle. My Dewar Arts Award has been pivotal in me pursuing my aspirations...words cannot describe how thankful I am to be able to prioritise my learning...it is a life-changing privilege."

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2017 Awardee: Rachel Rankin

"With support from the Dewar Arts Awards, I am able to fund my postgraduate studies and focus completely on my creative work. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity as I know this award will help me on my way to becoming the best writer I can be. Thank you."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born in 1994, Rachel is a writer and poet from Coatbridge, described as ‘utterly committed’ with ‘outstanding potential’.

After gaining a first class mark in creative writing studies at the University of Edinburgh, Rachel was offered a place to study on the MSc Creative Writing. She opted to follow the poetry strand, and alongside her studies has acted as a poetry editor for 50GS (an online creative journal) and volunteered with the Scottish Poetry Library.  She has worked part-time as Deputy Programme Assistant at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and as a Tutor in Scandinavian Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

Rachel’s work has been published in various journals including Gutter magazine and Antiphon. In 2017 she was shortlisted for the Jane Martin Poetry Prize, organised annually by Girton College at the University of Cambridge. She has performed her work both nationally and internationally and has twice been on the winning team of Unislam, the UK’s inter-university performance poetry championship.

Rachel has competed in a national performance poetry competition at the University of Texas, represented Scotland at the Talking Doorsteps Poetry Project at the Roundhouse, and performed her work in Bergen, Norway, where she lived in 2014-15.

As well as poetry, Rachel is interested in playwriting and writing for the theatre. Her play exploring class relations at university was selected from 75 five entries to be performed at the Winter Words New Writing Festival, organised by Glasgow based In Motion Theatre Company. She has been involved with the Traverse Young Writers group at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh and was selected to participate in the Scottish Review of Books Emerging Critics Mentoring Programme, where she was mentored by editor Alan Taylor.

How the Award Helped

Rachel received an award to help support her through her postgraduate studies on the MSc Creative Writing at the University of Edinburgh.

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"With support from the Dewar Arts Awards, I am able to fund my postgraduate studies and focus completely on my creative work. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity as I know this award will help me on my way to becoming the best writer I can be. Thank you."

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2017 Awardee: Martin Thomson

"If it wasn't for the generous support of the trust i wouldn't be able to pursue my dreams of studying in London and making my projects flourish into a professional career."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://theoldjellyrollers.com/
EMAIL:martin@oldfountainjazzorchestra.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/dopeymonmusic

Biography

Originally from Elgin, Moray, Martin learned to play the Euphonium through the Council’s Music Education Scheme. He played with Moray Concert Brass and Moray Senior Windband, and in 2011 moved to Edinburgh to study at St Mary’s Music School.

Alongside his Euphonium studies at St Mary’s, Martin won the SMMS Concerto Competition. He has performed concertos and solo pieces across the UK; as a soloist with various brass bands as well as performing in his trombone quartet, Aeris Brass with fellow Dewar Awardee Adam Crighton. Together they have both performed alongside Carol Jarvis, John Kenny, Mike Lovatt, Rex Richardson, Glenn Munro, Susan Hamilton, Emily White and Rick Taylor.

Martin co-founded jazz tuba duo ‘Dopey Monkey’ with tuba player Danielle Price, exploring a more contemporary side to their instruments. He is also one of the founders of the ‘Old Fountain Jazz Orchestra’ –  a big band featuring musicians from conservatoires across UK. The orchestra raise money for various charities and provide an educational resource for areas where there is no jazz education.

As part of New Orleans style jazz band ‘The Old Jelly Rollers’, Martin and six fellow musicians raised money to go to New Orleans. There they interviewed various jazz legends, to educate themselves and others about the origins of jazz music.

In 2015, Martin gained a place to study at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. This offered him the chance to study under tuba soloist Oren Marshall, which had been his dream.  The BMus Jazz course offered him the perfect opportunity to advance his skills to the next level and pursue a career as a euphonium artist.

https://www.facebook.com/aerisbrass/

How the Award Helped

Martin’s Award supported his studies at Trinity Laban.

The Old Fountain Jazz Orchestra

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"If it wasn't for the generous support of the trust i wouldn't be able to pursue my dreams of studying in London and making my projects flourish into a professional career."

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2017 Awardee: Eva Macfarlane

"Without the support of the Dewar Arts Awards, I would never have been able to take up my place here in London...I am excited for the future, and for the opportunities to come!"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Glasgow, Eva is a skilled and respected mezzo-soprano.

From a young age, Eva knew she had a great interest and passion for singing, and attended Douglas Academy Music School to further develop her musical talents. Here, through the combined work of Ruth Dean, Derek Norvall and Mark Evans, Eva developed her ambition to follow a singing career, and in 2013 she successfully auditioned for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Eva studied a Bachelor of Music in voice with Kathleen McKellar-Ferguson, and graduated with a first class honours degree in 2017. During her time at the RCS, Eva was a valued member of the RCS Voices and took part in prestigious performances of the St John Passion (with Bach choral scholar John Butt), and Beethoven’s Mass and Choral Fantasia (with the SSO).

Eva has performed as a concert soloist and operatically, and in 2016 performed the role of Fanny Price in Jonathon Dove’s ‘Mansfield Park’ with the Edinburgh Studio Opera. Other roles include Idamante in the Idomeneo Love Duet (Mozart Idomeneo), Mrs Quickly in the Letter Quartet (Verdi Falstaff), Sesto in Handel’s ‘Cesare’, and Gianetta in Donizetti’s ‘L’Elisir D’Amore’.

In 2017, Eva was offered the opportunity to study a Masters of Arts at the Royal Academy of Music, under the tutelage of Elizabeth Ritchie and Coach James Baillieu.

How the Award Helped

Eva’s award enabled her to pursue her passion for singing, by undertaking her Master of Performance (vocal studies) degree at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

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"Without the support of the Dewar Arts Awards, I would never have been able to take up my place here in London...I am excited for the future, and for the opportunities to come!"

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2017 Awardee: Marcus Swietlicki

"A Dewar Arts Award [will] greatly help to set me on this training path required to reach my full potential and...achieve my goal of becoming a professional opera singer on the international stage"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2017
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Marcus’ first foray into singing was with the The National Boys Choir of Scotland when he was 11 years old.  At the age of 14 he showed prodigious talent, described by tutors as “an extremely exciting young tenor with huge potential” and “the most outstanding young singer of this age group that I have taught.”

Marcus studied under Kathleen McKellar Ferguson, lecturer at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. At the age of 15 he performed the tenor solo “Like a Singing Bird” by Chilcott in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall accompanied by the National Boys Choir of Scotland.  He then successfully auditioned and gained a place on the Scottish Opera Connect Course for young singers, and took part in performances alongside professional singers.

Marcus was chosen to take part in a masterclass with Judith Howarth, and in 2015 gained a coveted place in the tenor section of The National Youth Choir of Scotland.  He toured to France as part of the choir, taking part in the Berlioz Festival at La Cote St Andre, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner.

In 2016, Marcus was awarded the Winifred Crawford Smith Medal for the under 18 recital at The Edinburgh Competition Festival, was invited to take part in the end of festival concert in The Queens Hall, and was awarded First Place at The Glasgow Music Festival for the Oratorio Under 18 Class Competition. He was awarded winner of the Rotary Club Young Musician 2016 Competition (Scotland & NE England Final), sang as part of the NYCoS choir at the London Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, and took part in a two-week tour to the U.S A. He then successfully auditioned to take part in a masterclass at the Junior Oxenfoord Course with Malcolm Martineau.

In April 2017, Marcus performed as the tenor soloist in two public performances of Handel’s “The Messiah” with Abbey Consort Choir.  He was just 18.

Marcus continued his studies at the RCS, tutored by Professor Stephen Robertson on the B.Mus Vocal Studies course. He has a genuine passion for opera and hopes to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional singer and performing on the international stage.

How the Award Helped

Marcus’ Award supported him in his studies at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, on the four-year Bachelor of Music vocal course.

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"A Dewar Arts Award [will] greatly help to set me on this training path required to reach my full potential and...achieve my goal of becoming a professional opera singer on the international stage"

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