Biography

Born in Stirling, Daniel has always dreamed of becoming a professional musician. At 8 years old he began learning both piano and bass guitar, and went on to play in bands as well as singing with many choirs. After leaving high school he studied piano at Stevenson College Edinburgh, achieving an ABRSM Grade 8 with distinction. In 2011 he then joined the BMus (Hons) course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and graduated with a First Class Honours.

During his time at RCS, Daniel had an opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship with the BBC SSO.  He joined them for their 2014 Tour of India and played concerts in Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. Daniel now plays with the BBC SSO as a frequent freelancer and in August 2015 was involved in their four Proms concerts in the Royal Albert Hall.

Daniel’s passion is for the double bass.  Through his determination and hard work he was accepted to study a Master of Music at the internationally renowned Manhattan School of Music in New York, with tuition from Tim Cobb, Principal Double Bass of the New York Philharmonic.

How the Award Helped

Biography

An intelligent and thoughtful musician, Tamara Hardy (Tam) is a double bass player described by her tutor as ‘one of the most proactive, innovative and original thinking students I have ever come across’.

Born and raised in the Highlands, Tam started playing double bass in primary school, when she was just 11. Less than a year later she was accepted into the Highland Regional Youth Orchestra, and by the age of 15, her passion for the instrument led her to audition for the Junior Academy at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She successfully gained a place and studied there for three years.

In 2011, Tam began the undergraduate programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Her four years in Glasgow offered Tam many opportunities including lessons and masterclasses with world renowned players.  She participated in apprenticeship schemes and collaborations with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Opera.

Tam graduated with a Bachelor of Music with Honours , and was awarded 1st prize in the John McInulty Prizes for Orchestral String Playing.

How the Award Helped

Biography

James Kenny, from Edinburgh, initially learnt to play piano from his mother, a piano teacher. At age 14, James was a pupil at Edinburgh City Music School where he studied double bass, piano, composition and choral singing. While at the Music School James was an active member of various ensembles, including NYJoS, The Edinburgh Schools Symphony Orchestra, The Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and the School String Ensemble. He also played in both jazz and classical ensembles.

James was offered places by a number of leading conservatoires and chose to accept the place offered by the Royal College of Music in London, where he is now an undergraduate.

James approaches his musical studies with the winning combination of musicality and intelligence. He goes into his studies at a high standard of musicianship and showing great potential for the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the substantial costs to study music at the RCM in London. James’s support has been continued for a second, and subsequently, a third year.

Since the Award

Biography

Duncan Lyall was brought up in Dunblane from the age of 2. At an early age he demonstrated an enthusiasm for music, starting first with piano lessons at the age of 5, then with the guitar a few years later and finally to the double bass. He left Dunblane at 18 to study music at university in Glasgow.

After graduating with a good degree, Duncan started working as a professional musician, playing both double bass and bass guitar with some of Scotland’s leading names in traditional music,  including Julie Fowlis, Kris Drever, Donald Shaw and Fred Morrison, as well as a host of fellow Dewar Arts awardees.

To date, Duncan has recorded on almost 30 albums, performed all over Europe and Canada and been a member of some of the leading Scottish traditional groups such as Croft No. Five and Brolum. Duncan has gained a deserved reputation as a top-class traditional musician and is in constant demand as a performing and recording musician.

Duncan writes that he has been developing his playing ‘to incorporate the bass in a more adventurous fashion, following the melodies, harmonising, writing counter melodies or providing a more rhythmic accompaniment with the bow’, which are, he explains, techniques more often used by the cello in traditional music.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Hailing from Prestwick in Ayrshire, Lesley-Ann Smith is a talented double-bassist. A graduate of RSAMD, she is currently pursuing postgraduate studies also at RSAMD.

As a youngster, Lesley-Ann was a member of the main youth orchestras of the UK, Scotland and also of NYOS’s Camerata. While an undergraduate she distinguished herself by winning the Eugene Cruft prize for Double Bass in 2004 and 2006.

Lesley-Ann’s ambition is to become a professional musician. Already she regularly plays with the main Scottish orchestras on a freelance basis, and in 2006 she participated successfully in the Side by Side project with the Scottish Opera.

To help her professional development, she now needs an instrument to match her standard of play.

How the Award Helped

Biography

While Genna was still an undergraduate at the RSAMD and playing in a concert, a visiting music professor in the audience leant forward and remarked on the wonderful playing of the bassist.
According to her nominator, Genna is one of the finest young string players ever to graduate from the RSAMD. She was showered with prizes before she graduated and has worked with the leading Scottish orchestras and ensembles.

Not only did Genna, from Stonehaven, win a coveted place at the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York but she was offered a generous scholarship as well. However, she would have been unable to take up this offer without the Dewar Award which filled the vital financial gap for her.

In her first year at Juilliard, Genna was invited to attend Jeff Bradetich’s elite soloists programme in Texas, as one of only five bassists to be invited. Bradetich is regarded as one of the leading performers and teachers of the double bass in the US today.

How the Award Helped

Genna received a Dewar Arts Award towards her studies at Juilliard School in New York.

Since the Award

Genna writes that “The standard of playing [at Juilliard School] all round is phenomenal… all I had to do was step outside my [practice] room and listen.”

Timothy Cobb, Genna’s tutor at Juilliard School, says of her that she “is among the very best of talent at Juilliard – a wonderful young bassist, a dedicated and diligent worker, and truly one of the kindest and most pleasant students I have ever had.”  Genna has won a full scholarship to continue her studies with Timothy Cobb at Lynn University in Florida.