2007 Awardee: Maureen McMullan

I was absolutely delighted to receive the news of the award.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 27
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Brought up in Coatbridge, Maureen studied voice and piano from the age of 12. She went on to study music at Strathclyde University, gaining a first class degree in Applied Music, winning the ‘Sir Alexander Stone Prize for Excellence in Performance’ for her final recital.

Maureen has trained in a range of styles, from classical, musical theatre, jazz and contemporary. In 2007 she performed at the 41st Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, where she beat off competition from thousands of singers worldwide to compete in the semi-final of the Shure Vocal competition. She was the only UK singer to reach the final eight.

Acclaimed Scottish jazz musician, Tommy Smith, describes Maureen as a ‘phenomenal singer … [whose] … voice embraces jazz, blues, gospel, and soul and transmits emotions like few other singers.’ As a singer/songwriter and backing vocalist, Maureen has performed at many major Scottish music festivals, including the Edinburgh ‘Fringe’, Celtic Connections and the Glasgow Jazz Festival, and has worked with some of Britain’s most influential contemporary musicians. In 2008 she joined the Scottish Jazz Orchestra as the singer on their Jazz Toons tour.

After working hard as a full-time professional singer for some years, Maureen has a strong desire to expand her knowledge of music and develop her creativity as a singer/songwriter. She has been awarded a partial scholarship to study for a Diploma in Professional Performance at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will provide financial assistance to enable her to take up this fantastic opportunity.

In 2008, Maureen once more was selected for the semi-final of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Shure Vocal Competition, in Switzerland. She is the only UK entrant to make the final 12 worldwide. The president of the jury this year is jazz/soul legend Patti Austin.

Since the Award

Maureen made the most of her opportunities while at Berklee, graduating with top honours (Summa Cum Laude) majoring in song-writing. Her tutors at Berklee have tipped her as the one who will make it.  Maureen was invited to sing during the Commencement Ceremony of her graduation. Afterwards Barbra Streisand, no less, came back stage to congratulate her and encourage her to continue singing. Maureen has gained an internship with the world-famous Warner/Chappell house in Nashville which has some major names on its label. Maureen writes, “Sometimes it is hard to put into words how much this experience has completely changed my musical horizons and perspectives. Doors are opening up for me now that I could never have imagined..I have only positive things to say about the Dewar Awards who believed in me from start to finish and allowed me to follow my dreams.”

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I was absolutely delighted to receive the news of the award.

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2007 Awardee: Mia Valenti

I am thrilled to bits and feel very privileged… I will now be able to go to London and concentrate fully on my dance studies. For that I am truly grateful.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 15
ARTFORMS:
 
 
 

Biography

Mia Valenti has loved dance for as long as she can remember. She started learning to dance at her local dancing school in Wemyss Bay. Her first appearance on the stage was at the age of eight when she was given the role of the young Juliet in the premiere of Robert North’s Romeo and Juliet, by Scottish Ballet.

Two years’ later she went on to win a place on the Scottish Ballet’s Junior Associate Scheme. Later she enrolled in the Dance School of Scotland, Knightswood where she has studied for four years.

In 2001 and 2004, Mia won the John Marshall Memorial Award for dance from the Royal Academy of Dance.

Mia has always been a highly focussed and motivated ballet student, able to communicate well with an audience and perform with assurance. She has been offered a fully funded place at Central School of Ballet, London where her exceptional potential can be developed.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award provides support to enable Mia to study dance at the Central School of Ballet.

Since the Award

In 2010 Mia graduated with a Professional Dance & Performance Certificate from the Central School of Ballet.  In her final year, Mia toured with ‘Ballet Central’, a company formed from third-year students of CSB, to many venues in the UK. One of her more unusual performance venues was the Old Bailey in London.

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I am thrilled to bits and feel very privileged… I will now be able to go to London and concentrate fully on my dance studies. For that I am truly grateful.

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2007 Awardee: Michael Osborne

I was thrilled to receive your letter of award.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 23
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Dumfries-born Michael graduated with distinction from Queen Margaret University College in 2005 with a degree in stage management and theatre production. Since graduation he has been working freelance in Scotland’s theatre and film industry towards his long-term goal to become a producer.

While an undergraduate, Michael’s particular interest was in stagecraft and screencraft. He was employed by the university as cinematographer and line producer on a number of undergraduate films shot as part of the BA Acting course. One film, Watching’, was screened at a number of short film festivals and for a week on Sky TV.

Since graduation, he has worked on a number of films in different capacities. Recently a short film on which he collaborated was screened at the 2007 Leith Festival and the New York Minute Film Festival.

Michael is considered to have all the attributes needed to become a successful producer; talent, creativity, drive and enthusiasm. To help him to the next stage in his career, Michael identified a number of courses that would provide him with the skills and experience he needs.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is funding Michael to attend a series of professional courses in film production.

Since the Award

Michael attended two courses on Moving into Management and on Production Management. As a result, he has been consistently employed during the worst part of the economic downturn of 2008-9. The benefits of the courses eventually helped him to secure a permanent position at one of the major schools in Edinburgh as Production Manager, responsible for all their drama productions.

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I was thrilled to receive your letter of award.

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2007 Awardee: Michael Segaud

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

Biography

Hailing from Perth, Michael gained a music scholarship to Strathallan School in Perthshire and from that time onwards has devoted himself to becoming a professional musician. Michael says of himself that music is his passion and that he could not even dream of doing anything else.

At school, Michael took a major part in every musical production and led the School Symphony Orchestra in his final year. As a youngster, he played with NCOS, was a student at the RSAMD Youthworks and a choral scholar at Perth Cathedral. Since 2001 Michael has been part of NYOS and the prestigious Camerata Scotland, and since 2006 he has played with NYOS Futures.

Michael is currently a student at the Royal Northern College of Music on an entrance scholarship where he is studying viola. He has impressed as a talented, imaginative and individual musician. His development is being hampered by the lack of a good instrument.

Since the Award

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Michael to purchase a professional standard viola.

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2007 Awardee: Miriam-Rose McFadyen

I really appreciate that the trustees felt I was worthy for an award and it will be such a huge help to me and my family

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

Biography

Dundee-born Miriam-Rose started to learn the violin when she was 12 and quickly showed natural talent. In those days, she played on a borrowed violin. When she was 16 she successfully auditioned for the BMus course at Glasgow’s RSAMD. By this time, she was playing for Scotland’s String and Youth Orchestras and was the youngest member of the prestigious Camerata Scotland.

After graduation Miriam-Rose continued at RSAMD to study for a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance, helped by a full scholarship from SAAS, and she is currently continuing on their MMus course. She has played with all of the Academy’s orchestras and was co-leader of the Symphony Orchestra. She rates playing under the baton of the ‘inspirational’ Vladimir Ashkenazy as one of her musical highlights to date.

Miriam-Rose’s ambition is to play professionally in an orchestra and to that end she won a place on the RSAMD/Scottish Opera apprenticeship scheme. She has since played professionally with both Scottish Opera and the RNSO. Miriam-Rose has also been noticed as ‘an exciting and impressive young soloist’ by music critics whom she has impressed with the combination of excellent technique with an instinctive musicality and lovely tone.

Miriam-Rose has been playing on an old Italian violin on loan from the RSAMD since her second year of undergraduate study. Now it is time for her to have her own professional standard instrument.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Miriam-Rose to buy a contemporary Scottish-made Ewen Thompson violin, which is a high-quality violin at an affordable price for musicians at the start of their professional career.

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I really appreciate that the trustees felt I was worthy for an award and it will be such a huge help to me and my family

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2007 Awardee: Naomi Berrill

Without the financial assistance of the Dewar Awards I would have been unable to ... attend this extremely inspiring course which has broadened greatly my views on music and helped to shape my musical path.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Galway-born Naomi was taught both classical and folk music from an early age and had her first cello lesson at the age of seven. Now based in Glenrothes, Naomi first studied music at Glasgow University before going on to the RSAMD to major in cello performance with Robert Irvine.

Currently studying cello performance in Italy, Naomi excels in many musical genres and is equally talented at classical, jazz and folk. In Italy she has been taught by Francesco Dillon and Enrico Bronzi and taken masterclasses from Rostropovich. Her talent and eclectic musical knowledge greatly impressed all these tutors.

Naomi performs with the Italian Contemporary Music Ensemble ‘Musicamorfosi’ as cellist and vocalist, and she has worked as jazz cellist with Italian jazz trumpeter Giovanni Falzone. She has performed in a cello-guitar duo with noted Scottish classical guitarist, Neil Wilson, at many festivals, including the Edinburgh International Fringe.

Naomi was invited to participate in a 3-week jazz and experimental music course in Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada. She is one of 14 musicians from Europe, together with musicians from America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia who have been specially selected for this prestigious course.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards provided the funding to enable Naomi to attend the Banff Centre for the Arts course in jazz and experimental music.

Since the Award

Naomi writes of the course at the Banff Centre that “I felt as if I had been given a new set of ears. I learnt to listen critically to music in a new way, to understand harmony better and play from musical scores that often contained no traditional musical notation at all.” She was invited to organise a successful evening of jazz and folk fusion with the students on the course.

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Without the financial assistance of the Dewar Awards I would have been unable to ... attend this extremely inspiring course which has broadened greatly my views on music and helped to shape my musical path.

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2007 Awardee: Nuala Kennedy

Without the financial assistance of the Dewar Awards I would have been unable to ... attend this extremely inspiring course which has broadened greatly my views on music and helped to shape my musical path.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.nualakennedy.com
 
 

Biography

Irish-born Nuala Kennedy has been based in the Highlands of Scotland for over 11 years. She is an accomplished and versatile musician. Her flute playing is beautifully lyrical and steeped in the tradition of both Irish and Scottish traditional music

Nuala is a founding member of the two respected Scottish bands Fine Friday and Harem Scarem. A major figure on the Scottish traditional music scene says that “she is at the forefront of a whole crop of dynamic female artists bringing an infectious humour and positivity in their approach to composition, arranging, promotion and performance.”

Nuala has developed strong links with Cape Breton and the music and people there and in 2006 she was awarded a Thyne Scholarship to investigate living composers in Cape Breton. At the 2007 Celtic Connections Festival she received rave reviews for her New Voices commission entitled ‘Astar:Journey’.

Also in 2007 Nuala will be a musician-in-residence at Artomi in New York where she will collaborate with 15 other musicians from around the world to produce work which will be premiered in August 2007. For more information about Nuala see www.nualakennedy.com

Nuala is working on the production of her first solo CD, featuring songs in English and Gaelic.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards is contributing towards the production of Nuala’s solo CD.

Since the Award

Nuala writes, “I wanted to bring out an album which reflected my own experience, and to a certain extent my Irish roots a little more.” The album “New Shoes” has been highly praised and was voted Album of the Week in the Irish Times.

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Without the financial assistance of the Dewar Awards I would have been unable to ... attend this extremely inspiring course which has broadened greatly my views on music and helped to shape my musical path.

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2007 Awardee: Oliver Smith

I am delighted that I will be able to continue my animation career, and I will try to live up to your expectations.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 12
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

It’s not that unusual for a twelve-year-old to be a whizz at computers. But what is remarkable about Oliver Smith is that he entered Digital Eden, a competition for adults as part of the 2006 Inverness Film Festival, and was one of six winners. His winning entry, a 6-minute animated short film based on the 1970’s hit MASH!, was described as ‘clever, inventive and humorous’. It was a great success with the public.

The prize was to produce a film based on this idea, with mentoring from a film professional. Oliver demonstrated creativity, determination and maturity way beyond his years to those who worked with him on this further project. In 2007 his film was short-listed out of over 120 entries for the National Young Filmmakers Award.

Oliver began his interest in animation by producing animated sections on his primary school’s website. In 2005 when still in Primary 7 Oliver, along with a friend of his own age and using a camcorder and basic movie making software, won an ‘Albert’ prize (Arts in Motion) for their live action short film ‘The Pillow Killers’.

At his young age, it is impossible to say what Oliver will do professionally. But at the moment, he is keen to pursue a career in film-making.

All we can say is, his creativity and interest in film-making are rare in someone so young. He may well be an important Scottish film-maker of the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Oliver to buy a computer and software to help with develop his next film-making project.

Since the Award

November 2007 – Oliver’s short animation film ‘Go Practise’ was nominated for a BAFTA.

April 2008 – Oliver received the ‘Up and Coming Youngster Award’ at the Moray Firth Radio Awards.

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I am delighted that I will be able to continue my animation career, and I will try to live up to your expectations.

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2007 Awardee: Raim Koo

I am very grateful and delighted to receive this … it means so much towards Raim’s future. (Songsue Williams, mother)

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 14
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Korean-born Raim Koo moved to Scotland when he was 4 years old. He started having cello lessons whilst still at primary school and won a place at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh in 2000.

Raim impressed his current cello teacher as being one of the few truly gifted young musicians she has taught. He combines a great natural facility, a love of music and an instinctive feeling for style, which is unusual in someone so young.

Between 2003 and 2006 Raim was a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland and in 2004 travelled to China with the String Ensemble of NCOS to represent Scotland at the Tianjiu International Children’s Culture and Arts Festival.

He continued to be a member of the String Ensemble in 2005 and 2006 and in the same years successfully auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. In 2007 he represents St Mary’s Music School in masterclasses at the triennial International Cello Festival in Manchester.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Raim purchase a performance standard cello equal to his outstanding talent as a player.

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I am very grateful and delighted to receive this … it means so much towards Raim’s future. (Songsue Williams, mother)

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2007 Awardee: Robert Torrance

Thank you so much for offering me … an extremely generous music grant award. I accept with great appreciation.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2007
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

From the lovely Fife town of St. Andrews, Robert’s greatest ambition is to lead a successful career as a professional solo violinist. Those who have heard Robert have no difficulty in believing that he will achieve his ambition.

At the tender age of 10, Robert won the gold medal of the under-18 final of the Indiana State Violin Competition. At 14, he won the Open String Solo competition, Festival Medal and Stringer Prize at the Edinburgh Musical Competition Festival. Two years’ later he was one of 13 competitors selected for the Yfrah Neaman International Violin Competition in Germany and in 2005 he won an Arts Trust of Scotland award to study with Professor Oistrakh in Brussels.

Robert’s tally of solo performances with orchestra is equally impressive. While he was still at school he performed the Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso with the University of St Andrews’ Symphony Orchestra. The conductor for this performance describes him as a young man of personal and musical maturity, who was focused and a pleasure to work with.

In 2007 he performed Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy and Dvorak’s Romance with the Dundee Symphony Orchestra, receiving rave reviews. In the light of the success of this performance, he was invited back to perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the orchestra. He was a member of the National Youth Orchestra for three years.

Currently studying psychology at York University, Robert also finds the time to pursue other interests which include skiing, Munro climbing and fly fishing.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will provide Robert with a new violin bow and financial assistance to study with the esteemed violin teacher Leland Chen.

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Thank you so much for offering me … an extremely generous music grant award. I accept with great appreciation.

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