2014 Awardee: Peter Keenan

Biography

Having lived in Scotland since he was two years old, Peter studied composition at St Mary’s Music School before reading music at the University of York, It was during his time at York that he had his first conducting opportunities. In his final year, Peter was Music Director of the University of York Opera Society, with whom he conducted a staged production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

Peter has studied with William Conway and Garry Walker, and has attended courses with Peter Stark. In recent years he has focused his conducting activities towards opera, and has acted as Assistant Music Director to William Conway with Edinburgh Studio Opera. He has worked on Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (2014) and The Magic Flute (2015), and looks forward to returning for Bizet’s Carmen in 2016.

In 2014 Peter founded Opera dei Lumi, who gave their company debut with Mozart’s Così fan tutte to great acclaim. They have since received commendation for concert performances of Le Nozze di Figaro in Berwick Festival Opera and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

How the Award Helped

Peter’s Dewar Award enabled him to explore his fascination with Mozart’s operas, by undertaking a research degree at the University of Glasgow.

2008 Awardee: Bede Williams

I write in appreciation of the award that you recently made available to me for my Masters in Conducting at RSAMD…. Your support comes at what I feel is a critical time.

Biography

New Zealand-born Bede Williams came to Scotland in 2003 as an Associated Board International Scholar to study at the RSAMD. He came as a trumpeter and graduated with a first-class honours degree. While an undergraduate he won the prestigious Philip Jones Memorial Prize, competing against wind players much older than himself, and won the coveted RSAMD Governor’s recital prize.

Bede impressed from the start as a musician of prodigious talent and individuality. In addition to being an exceptional trumpeter, he demonstrated a flair for electro acoustic performance and composition and worked with numerous professional orchestras. He is a founding member of the Alba Brass Quartet.

Bede continued his studies at RSAMD in conducting, again demonstrating prodigious potential and talent as a conductor both on a technical and musical level. He has already conducted the Hebrides ensemble and the RSNO. His tutors confidently expect him to go on to a highly successful career combining his talents as a conductor, performer and composer.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Bede to join the Master of Conducting course at RSAMD.

Since the Award

After delaying entry for a year onto the masters course in order to participate in the RSAMD Emergent Leaders programme, Bede graduated the following year with a Master of Music (Distinction). In 2010-11 he is conductor of the Lomond and Clyde Community Orchestra, the Penland Singers and the Bo’ness and Carriden Brass Band. He teaches trumpet at St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh and continues to play trumpet for the Alba Brass Quintet.

I write in appreciation of the award that you recently made available to me for my Masters in Conducting at RSAMD…. Your support comes at what I feel is a critical time.

2007 Awardee: Gordon Bragg

I am most grateful for this opportunity to increase my learning opportunities.

Biography

Hailing from Dunblane, Gordon Bragg started out as a highly-talented violinist, developing in later years to lead NYOS, Camerata Scotland and NYOS Futures. He went on to study violin at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Gordon is considered to be one of the most exciting young musicians to represent Scotland in recent years.

After graduating, Gordon went on to join the prestigious postgraduate conducting programme at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

During his first year at RNCM, Gordon conducted the College’s symphony and string orchestras, the junior vocal ensemble and the wind ensemble in a diverse range of works and to an enthusiastic reception. He has a deep commitment to the music of today and has a great admiration for the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra of Finland, which promotes works by contemporary as well as classical composers.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Gordon purchase a series of Barenreiter scores of classic works by some of Europe’s greatest composers, an essential tool for a student conductor.

I am most grateful for this opportunity to increase my learning opportunities.