2008 Awardee: Calum Tonner

I am delighted to accept the Dewar Arts Award.

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

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: Daljinder Singh

I would like to thank Dewar Arts Awards for this award, and I am grateful for the opportunity it will afford me to develop my work.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 28
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Originally from Yorkshire, Daljinder has lived in Scotland for four years where she has been developing her work as a theatre director. She began working as a trainee drama worker with the TAG Theatre Company. Since then she has worked for National Theatre of Scotland, Playwrights Studio Scotland and Ankur Productions and has staged productions at both the Tramway and Glasgow Citizens Theatre.

Her production of Martin Crimp’s ‘Fewer Emergencies’ at the Citizens Theatre was described by a critic as ‘a perfectly paced production that never misses a beat, emerging as a frighteningly vivid journey’. Recently Daljinder was awarded the prestigious, and competitive, Arches Award for Stage Directors, an award for new and exciting directors based in Scotland. The award will enable her to produce her own devised theatre piece ‘The Severed Head of Comrade Bukhari’ at The Arches Theatre, Glasgow.

Daljinder is considered to be a very talented young director with real potential to make a significant contribution to Scottish theatre.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Award will help to support Daljinder during the early development and rehearsal stages of her Arches project.

Since the Award

Daljinder writes that, “being able to participate in the Arches Award with the help of the Dewar Arts [Award] …… gave me the freedom and space to develop further artistically and explore what I wanted to say as an artist.”

Daljinder has gone on to further success since completing the project supported by a Dewar Arts Award. In 2008 she received the prestigious Jerwood Award for Directors and went on to direct a play at the Young Vic as part of this award. She is now undertaking a period of professional development at the Young Vic.

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I would like to thank Dewar Arts Awards for this award, and I am grateful for the opportunity it will afford me to develop my work.

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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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2006 Awardee: Dominique Collins

Dominique thanks you for this opportunity and promises to fulfil her obligation .. in striving to be the best that she can be during the next year. (Linda Collins, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2006
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Now living in Dumbarton, Dominique started dancing at the age of 12. After only one year she won the Scottish Junior Modern Championship and the Scottish Senior Modern Championship the following year.

Her early dance teachers consider her to be one of the most talented Scottish dancers at the moment. She also has an exceptional singing voice. Dominique is made of the stuff all dance teachers dream of, a combination of exciting raw talent and dedicated to hard work.

Dominique has been offered a scholarship at Laines Theatre Arts in Surrey, one of the premier musical theatre schools.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards will help with the considerable costs of living and studying in Surrey. Dominique’s funding has been extended for a second year, and subsequently a third year.

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Dominique thanks you for this opportunity and promises to fulfil her obligation .. in striving to be the best that she can be during the next year. (Linda Collins, mother)

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2008 Awardee: Elaine Woo MacGregor

The award gives me an exciting opportunity to work in a creative environment within the unique New England setting.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Edinburgh-born Elaine was brought up by her traditional Chinese parents and is equally comfortable in both Chinese and Western cultures. From a young age she went to the Chinese school learning how to read and write Chinese. During that time, she was taught Chinese poetry and calligraphy. She has visited China several times to visit relatives.

In the family home, the fusion of the two cultures was reflected in the prints, textiles and furnishings. However, Scotland has always felt like home to Elaine.

Elaine moved to Glasgow at the age of 18 to study Fine Art at the Glasgow School of Art. She graduated with a good degree, acquired a studio and began working as a full-time artist, exhibiting throughout the UK. She began to be noticed as a serious and thoughtful painter and her first solo exhibition was ‘Portraits’ in Glasgow.

Elaine has received recognition for her work in the form of the James Torrance Memorial Award, the Hope Scott Trust Award and the Cross Trust Fund.

Elaine was offered a post as Artist in Residence for one month at the University of Guizhou, based at the Art Academy of Guiyang. Elaine says of the experience that, “it helped to bring back some strong connections to my Chinese roots; providing me with a better understanding of the Chinese way of life and its ancient philosophy.” An exhibition of new work inspired by this visit can be seen in the Harbour Art Centre in Irvine in 2009.

How the Award Helped

Elaine has been offered the Partial Fellowship Artist Residency in the Vermont Studio Center, Johnson in Vermont. The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the funding of her stay there.

Since the Award

Elaine writes that after her one-month residency in the Vermont Studio Center “there have been unexpected new directions and opportunities..”  One is an exhibition in late 2010 in London with a group of artists on the residency, the other is her increasing interest in imagery related to mythology and human history. She plans to visit ancient Scottish settlements to develop this interest.

Elaine took part in our 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Roots to Shoots. Find out more here.

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The award gives me an exciting opportunity to work in a creative environment within the unique New England setting.

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2008 Awardee: Eoghainn MacLean

I would like to express my thanks to you all for giving me this award. You have allowed me to continue my dream and I am so grateful.

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

Biography

Glasgow born and bred Eoghainn has wanted to be a film director for as long as he can remember. As a child he watched film constantly, not just for the entertainment, but to observe and study it as an art-form. He would study the lighting, camera angles and all the other elements that created mood and drove the story.

Eoghainn writes his own short film scripts, but his real passion is in the visual side of storytelling. While at school he studied art and media studies and stood out as someone who had an intuitive understanding of the subject. Long-term, Eoghainn wants his unique artistic vision to have an impact on Scottish film in the future, and he has already shown that he has the talent, passion and commitment to achieve his goal.

He has been given an opportunity to start on that journey by gaining a place on the Digital Film-making Course at the SAE Institute in Glasgow.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will contribute towards Eoghainn’s costs to attend the SAE Institute.

Since the Award

At the end of the course, Eoghainn knew that his real interest lies in post-production, that is in editing or computer-based special effects work, and he hopes to pursue a career in this area.

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I would like to express my thanks to you all for giving me this award. You have allowed me to continue my dream and I am so grateful.

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2008 Awardee: Eve Smith

I am absolutely delighted to receive this award and express my most sincere thanks to the Trustees for supporting me in this way.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 26
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow-born Eve is very proud of her Polish heritage. Being both grandchild of immigrants and growing up with the presence of two cultures has informed her career ambitions and given her an international perspective on her work.

In June 1999 her local MP, Donald Dewar, presented Eve with the art prize at secondary school.

Eve graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2004 in Fine Art with an ambition to work in the visual arts. Since then she has won a number of awards, including in 2004 the John Kinross Travel Scholarship from the Royal Scottish Academy of Art. In 2007 Eve received a Personal Development Award from Project Scotland to visit Documenta 12 in Kassel, Germany.

After a series of voluntary placements in visual arts organisations, Eve worked for the National Galleries of Scotland as Assistant to the Director of Development and Communications where she demonstrated her enormous potential to become a curator as well as her ability to enthuse people with her interest in contemporary art.

Eve has been offered a place on the competitive MA in Curating Contemporary Art at the Royal College of Art in London, which is a highly international programme.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help to fund Eve’s studies in London.

Since the Award

A year later, Eve reported that her first year had been extremely busy, academically demanding and successful. She writes, “Being able to take up my place on this MA course has been a fantastic experience and has really developed every aspect of my thinking as a curator.”

After a further year’s study, Eve graduated from RCA with an MA in Curating Contemporary Art. In 2011 she will do a work placement in the curatorial department of the Sharjah Biennal, UAE.

Eve supported with the curation of our 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Roots to Shoots. Find out more here.

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I am absolutely delighted to receive this award and express my most sincere thanks to the Trustees for supporting me in this way.

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2008 Awardee: Fingal McKiernan

Can I ... say how delighted I am to have been selected for one of the awards. It was a surprise to me and words cannot express how thankful I am.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Dundee-born Fingal discovered a talent and passion for theatre at the age of 15, in particular for Shakespeare’s language and fantastical characters. He was a member of the National Youth Theatre from 2003-2006 and was their representative for the City of Edinburgh.

Fingal’s ideal job would be acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Already he has trained with actors from both the RSC and the National Theatre in London, has worked on television and, most recently, in the film ‘Hallam Foe’, starring Jamie Bell.

Before pursuing a career in acting, Fingal gained a science degree from Edinburgh University and, rather more romantically, worked as a spear fisherman in Greece as well as a crew member on boats operating out of the East Coast of Scotland. All of this has given him valuable life experience which he can put into future performances.

Fingal has gained a place on the postgraduate acting course at the Drama Studio, London, whose alumni include Forrest Whittaker and Emily Watson. The Drama Studio is particularly well-known for its exceptional training in classical acting, particularly in Fingal’s beloved Shakespeare. Fingal is considered to be highly talented, and already displays the instincts and artistic honesty of a professional actor.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Fingal through his studies at the Drama Studio, London.

Since the Award

Since graduating, Fingal has appeared in two stage plays, played the lead in a WW1 feature film and in a new play for BBC radio. Following these jobs, he has been signed up by an agent. Fingal writes that the support from the Dewar Arts Awards, “has given me the opportunity to realise my dreams. I cannot express the feeling of gratitude I have in words..”

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Can I ... say how delighted I am to have been selected for one of the awards. It was a surprise to me and words cannot express how thankful I am.

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