2008 Awardee: Maryam Sheran

I am writing to thank the trustees for my Dewar Arts Award. It will help me tremendously, and I am extremely grateful.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Born and brought up in Aberdeenshire, Maryam learnt to play the piano at the age of six and the violin when she was seven. She enjoys playing both classical and traditional music on both instruments, and over the years has won many local competitions in both genres, including the Alex Watters Memorial Award for piano in 2002.

Maryam began studying jazz piano at Strathclyde University, where she gained an honours degree in applied music. She performed a jazz piano piece for her degree recital in 2006, which was considered one of the best recitals of the year. Maryam has always enjoyed piano accompanying and has gone on to study for a postgraduate diploma in piano accompanist at RSAMD in order to develop as an accompanist as well as a solo pianist.

Maryam has a big, natural talent for the piano and a love for music that comes across powerfully in her playing. Her ability to empathise and support will help her to develop the potential that she possesses to become an exceptional accompanist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Maryam pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Piano Accompaniment.

Since the Award

Maryam graduated in 2009 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Accompaniment. She writes that “one area of unexpected development has been the extent of my work with vocalists. I have formed a duo partnership with one particular mezzo-soprano [fellow Dewar Awardee] Jemma Brown, and she has played a very significant part in my development as a vocal accompanist.”  The duo’s recitals are becoming very popular throughout Scotland.  Maryam and Jemma will be performing at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

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I am writing to thank the trustees for my Dewar Arts Award. It will help me tremendously, and I am extremely grateful.

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2008 Awardee: Mhari Baird

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from East Ayrshire, flautist Mharhi is studying music at Glasgow’s, RSAMD. Before that she spent two years at Lews Castle College in Benbecula.

Mharhi is a diverse musician and a natural performer. As well as excelling on the flute, she also plays the guitar and banjo and is developing into a wonderful singer in her native Scots. She has a particular interest in the traditional flute and will be spending four months in Limerick on an exchange programme to study the Irish flute.

She performed at the 2008 Celtic Connections Festival to great acclaim and is a name to look out for in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enables Mharhi to buy a 6-keyed wooden flute.

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2008 Awardee: Morag Keil

I am very grateful for this and the award will be a big help for me whilst studying my MA at Chelsea

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

Biography

Edinburgh-born Morag graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 2006. Since then she has been working as a multi-disciplinary artist in Glasgow where she has become part of the Glasgow art scene and exhibited in both Scotland and abroad. Morag’s art practise encompasses performance, sculpture, painting and video, and she co-organised Flat 01, an exhibition / event / performance venue in a Glasgow flat.

In 2006 Morag was awarded the Skinny Magazine Arts Reviewer of the year. She has been successful in winning a number of grants to support her art development and was selected for both Bloomberg New Contemporaries and BraveArt. Her work has been featured in a number of magazines and her solo exhibitions have been very successful. She is represented by the Neue Alte Brücke gallery in Frankfurt.

Morag has been accepted to study for an MA at the Chelsea College of Art. She is regarded someone with a great career ahead as an internationally-recognised artist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Morag in her studies at Chelsea College of Art.

Since the Award

Morag used her year of study to develop a practical application for her theoretical concerns. At her final degree show she exhibited a film entitled ‘Where Are You Going?’  Morag writes, “without the Dewar Award, I would not have had the opportunity to spend this time researching and developing my work. It has benefited my research and working practices greatly..’ Morag successfully completed a Master of Art at Chelsea.

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I am very grateful for this and the award will be a big help for me whilst studying my MA at Chelsea

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2008 Awardee: Niall Macdonald

I’m honoured and delighted. [This award] will enable me to totally dedicate myself to the production of new work …. I look forward to starting the project.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Niall was born and raised in the remote Outer Hebrides. He now lives in Glasgow and works alongside some of Scotland’s most successful contemporary visual artists at the new Glasgow Sculpture Studios.

His first degree was in Literature and Film studies at Glasgow University. In 2008, Niall graduated from the acclaimed MFA at Glasgow School of Art, where he was awarded the prestigious Leverhulme Scholarship.

Niall’s degree show work was selected to be part of ‘ROAR:’, a high-profile review exhibition of promising young Scottish artists which was held at London’s South Bank Centre. Since graduating, Niall has exhibited work in Manchester, Berlin and again in London. He is considered to be one of the most talented and intellectually able artists working in Scotland today and is seen as an emerging artist with an outstanding career ahead of him.

Niall begins working on an ambitious project to produce a series of new artwork culminating in a significant solo exhibition in late 2009 to be held in Glasgow’s young and increasingly renowned gallery, Washington Garcia.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help buy time and materials to help Niall produce this significant body of new work.

Since the Award

Niall writes that receiving the award enabled him to “open up new ways of working, to explore ideas and over the 10 months of the project gave me an opportunity to push my work forward with confidence and support.” Since the end of his Dewar-funded project, Niall has continued to develop and show his work.

Niall’s work was showcased as part of our 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Roots to Shoots. Find out more here.

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I’m honoured and delighted. [This award] will enable me to totally dedicate myself to the production of new work …. I look forward to starting the project.

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2008 Awardee: Patricia Orr

I am enormously grateful and very proud indeed to have been selected as the recipient of an Award.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glasgow-born Patricia was educated at Holyrood Secondary School and later at Glasgow University where she studied for a law degree.

She later moved to London to pursue a career in opera. Patricia’s mezzo soprano voice both impressed and excited her tutor for its size and beauty. She is currently on the one-year intensive vocational opera programme at the prestigious National Opera Studio, which is considered to be the main UK launch-pad for great opera careers.

Patricia’s goal is to join one of the major opera companies. Already she has bookings with Scottish Opera, Opera Holland Park and the National Opera Studio Showcase.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is supporting Patricia at the National Opera Studio.

Since the Award

Patricia writes, “My experience at the Opera Studio was overwhelmingly positive. ..The financial support I received with the Dewar [Arts] Awards allowed me to exploit and enjoy the many opportunities afforded by the training course at the Studio through the year without the pressure of constant financial anxiety.”

Patricia is currently singing Second Lady in Mozart’s Magic Flute for the English Touring Opera, and in 2010 will be singing in a new production of Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream  at Garsington Opera.

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I am enormously grateful and very proud indeed to have been selected as the recipient of an Award.

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2008 Awardee: Rachel Steele

Thank you for your letter informing me of my award … the news was so wonderful. Please inform the committee that I thank them for their offer.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 16
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Perth born and bred, Rachel began learning the ‘cello on an instrument which belonged to her grandfather. She was a student on the Junior RSAMD programme, studying both ‘cello and clarinet, where she received a number of scholarships, including the Wolfson and the Musicians’ Benevolent.

Rachel attends Perth Academy and is principal ‘cellist in both the Academy and the Perth Youth Orchestras. She also sings with the Fair City Singers and was their instrumental soloist in their summer tour around Italy. She is also a probationer with the renowned local choir, Chansons.

Rachel’s musicianship has developed in the last few years and her Junior RSAMD tutors consider her to be a young musician of enormous potential. Now that she is about to audition to study at a conservatoire, her family had to make the decision to sell the family ‘cello in order to buy a better standard of instrument for Rachel’s professional career.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help to purchase a new good-quality ‘cello.

Since the Award

Rachel subsequently bought a Chinese-made ‘cello with a beautiful sound and which she is delighted with. She continues to lead the Perth Youth Orchestra, reached the final of the Perth Chamber Music Young Player competition and starts her further studies in music in 2010 at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

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Thank you for your letter informing me of my award … the news was so wonderful. Please inform the committee that I thank them for their offer.

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2008 Awardee: Rachel Watson

I am very grateful to you all for this amazing award and I am really looking forward to performing with my very own tenor saxophone.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Interested in music from a very young age, Rachel initially wanted to learn the flute. That was until she went to hear Russell Cowieson play in a jazz concert. She fell in love with the saxophone immediately, and went on to have lessons with Cowieson for the following six years.

Hailing from Mid-Calder, Rachel first studied at the RSAMD Junior Academy. She later won a place at the RSAMD to study music, impressing with her natural talent combined with strong work ethic.

Rachel is a talented chamber musician and has set up a saxophone quartet. Her ambition is to be a professional musician, ideally playing her beloved jazz.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has helped Rachel buy her own tenor saxophone.

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I am very grateful to you all for this amazing award and I am really looking forward to performing with my very own tenor saxophone.

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2008 Awardee: Richard Hackett

I am over the moon to have won a place at Central School of Ballet where I can work hard to develop my dance skills, and extremely grateful to the Dewar Awards without whose support this would not be possible.

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

Biography

From Bishopton, Renfrewshire, Richard Hackett showed a natural ability for dance from an early age. He joined the Scottish Ballet’s Associate Programme when he was nine and was a pupil for six years at the Dance School of Scotland, in Knightswood. Richard performed his first main ballet role when he was 15 years, as James in La Sylphide by the Scottish Ballet.

Richard was seen as a talented and committed dance student at the Dance School, winning a number of prestigious prizes and awards along the way, including the Choreography Competition, the progress prize in 2004 and 2006, the Randak Trophy for Achievement in 2007. He featured in the school’s Showcase each year.

Richard auditioned for, and was offered a place by, three of the top dance schools in London. He chose to study at Central School of Ballet which, he explains, will enable him to combine a strong classical technique with more contemporary movement.

Richard is a highly motivated and committed dancer and believes that he will be able to develop his potential to the fullest at Central School of Ballet. His long-term aim is to dance with one of the top ballet companies.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is helping to support Richard while he studies at the Central School of Ballet in London.

Since the Award

After a successful first year, Richard’s funding has been extended for a second year.

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I am over the moon to have won a place at Central School of Ballet where I can work hard to develop my dance skills, and extremely grateful to the Dewar Awards without whose support this would not be possible.

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2008 Awardee: Robert Anderson

I am delighted to accept the Award …. It is very generous and makes it possible for me to take full advantage of this exciting opportunity of studying abroad with a great artist.

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

Biography

Glasgow-born Robert Anderson was one of the first members of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland, going on to play with NYOS. Starting first at the RSAMD Junior Department, Robert was awarded the Stevenson Scholarship by RSAMD to continue his studies there as an undergraduate.

Whilst an undergraduate, Robert won numerous prizes for solo playing, chamber music and academic work. He was invited to perform with world-class chamber musicians such as Levon Chilingirian and Alasdair Tait at the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival and subsequently in London, and he was invited by the section principal to freelance with the RSNO. Robert founded and performed widely with the Alba String Quartet, of which it has been said, “Scotland is indeed fortunate to have a young Quartet of this calibre which is prepared to work tirelessly for the advancement of chamber music on all levels.”

Robert graduated with a first-class degree in 2007. He has been invited by “one of the greatest living Scottish musicians, the internationally-renowned ‘cellist Alexander Baillie” to study with him for an MA in Music Performance in Bremen. He is seen as a young ‘cellist with enormous potential and studying in Germany is likely to be enriching both culturally and musically.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards Robert’s fees and living expenses at the Bremen Conservatoire.

Since the Award

Robert writes that his first year at Bremen, studying with Professor Baillie, was ‘a life-changing experience’ and that ‘the way I play the ‘cello has undergone a transformation’. Following auditions, Robert received the Caird Foundation’s Bloch Prize for outstanding string player. He also won places in the Baltic Youth Philharmonic and the Netherlands Orchestra Academy and toured with the Vienna Tonkunstler Orchestra in 2009.

Robert’s plans took an exciting turn when he decided not to take up the second year funding to continue his studies with Professor Baillie, but instead accepted an offer from the International Menuhin Music Academy in Bern, Switzerland.

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I am delighted to accept the Award …. It is very generous and makes it possible for me to take full advantage of this exciting opportunity of studying abroad with a great artist.

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2008 Awardee: Ryan Sullivan

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks as this grant will allow me to purchase my desired bassoon.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2008
AGE AT AWARD: 15
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Ryan from Glasgow is one of a number of up-and-coming musical talents currently studying at the RSAMD Junior Academy, where he received the Wolfson Scholarship in 2007 and 2008. At 15 he is the youngest student of the bassoon, and he is already a seasoned performer in various youth orchestras. Ryan is also a keen pianist and singer and currently sings with the National Youth Choir of Scotland.

Ryan quickly impressed his early teachers with his natural talent and potential, showing rapid progress with the bassoon. Ryan is enthusiastic in his approach to his bassoon studies and hopes to have a successful career as an orchestral player. The only thing holding him back is the lack of a good instrument.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award has enabled Ryan to purchase a professional-standard bassoon to support his playing.

Since the Award

Ryan was able to find a Fox bassoon that suited him and writes that it is a ‘true pleasure to perform on such a beautiful bassoon’. Ryan has since gained places in the NYO Scotland and the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. In 2010 Ryan will perform Weber’s Bassoon Concerto with the Glasgow Schools’ Symphony Orchestra as his first concerto performance. Ryan looks forward to continuing his music studies at a conservatoire.

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I would like to extend my sincerest thanks as this grant will allow me to purchase my desired bassoon.

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