Biography

Timothy is a British baritone who is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and a Master of Music. In 2019, Timothy gained a place at the Alexander Gibson Opera School (RCS) to study under the tutelage of Scott Johnson and Duncan Williams. He is grateful for his studies being supported by the Dewar Arts Awards, the Clemence Charitable Trust, the Kathleen Trust, the McGlashan Charitable Trust, the Mario Lanza Educational Foundation and an RCS Trust Scholarship.

Operatic highlights include his role debuts as Macheath Die Dreigroschenoper and Betto di Signa Gianni Schicchi, both for RCS Opera, Papageno Die Zauberflöte for Berlin Opernfest, the title role in The Marriage of Figaro for Edinburgh Studio Opera and Schaunard La Bohème for Edinburgh Grand Opera. For the 2020/21 season, he was scheduled to sing Curio Giulio Cesare, Minskman Flight, Le Chat in L’enfant et les sortilèges with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the role of Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Ensemble Orquesta. However, due to Covid-19, these performances were cancelled.

Scenic roles and covers include Faninal Der Rosenkavalier, 1st Lieutenant Billy Budd and Vater Hänsel und Gretel, Sam Trouble in Tahiti, Valentin Faust, Zurga Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Count Almaviva Le Nozze di Figaro, Malatesta Don Pasqaule, Guglielmo Così fan tutte and the title roles in Don Giovanni and Gianni Schicchi. Chorus work has led to him performing at prestigious events such as the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms under the baton of conductors including Gustavo Dudamel, Daniel Barenboim and Sir Andrew Davis. Works including Mahler Symphony No.2, Stravinsky The Rake’s Progress, Wagner Götterdämmerung and Scottish Opera’s The Fiery Angel by Prokofiev.

On the concert platform, Timothy is in demand throughout the United Kingdom and Europe with repertoire including Handel ‘Messiah’, Duruflé ‘Requiem’, Fauré ‘Requiem’, Puccini ‘Messa di Gloria’, Mozart ‘Requiem’ and Beethoven ‘Symphony No.9’, which he performed at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. As a lay clerk with the Choir of Glasgow Cathedral, he is a frequent soloist, and was soloist with them for Haydn’s ‘The Creation’. He has taken part in masterclasses with Patricia MacMahon, Philip Moll, Gidon Saks, Nicky Spence and Christopher Purves.

How the Award Helped

Timothy’s Award enabled him to study at the Alexander Gibson Opera School (RCS) under the tutelage of Scott Johnson and Duncan Williams.

Since the Award

In the 2020/21 season, Timothy became a member of the ‘Bridging the Gap’ scheme with the Dunedin Consort.

Biography

Lea Shaw is an award-winning Mezzo-soprano from the Rocky Mountains of Denver, Colorado.

An accomplished soloist in concert, opera and improvisation, she has performed both locally and worldwide. Her repertoire spans widely, ranging from Handel’s ‘Messiah’, Bach’s ‘St. John Passion’, and the works of Britten, Handel, Bernstein, Purcell, Strauss, to the works of Vaughan Williams, Turnage, Ravel, Macmillan, Schoenberg’s ‘Pierrot Lunaire’ and Maxwell Davies’ ‘The Medium’.

In her solo pursuits, Lea is passionate about the ways in which music can instigate social change and start conversations about the problems we face in contemporary life.  She collaborates regularly with living composers and artists to create installations and new works.

Lea received a first class BMus with honours and a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, before going on to study at the RCS’ Alexander Gibson Opera School.

How the Award Helped

Lea’s Award contributed to her final year of tuition at the Alexander Gibson Opera School at the RCS.

Biography

Born in the Netherlands, Myrna started music lessons at a young age, quickly developing a passion for singing. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tutelage of Helen Lawson, graduating with a Bachelor with Honours of the First Class, after which she spent two years working as a freelance performer and studying on a part-time basis with Wilma MacDougall.

Myrna has performed across the UK in venues like The Bridgewater Hall and Glasgow City Halls. She regularly performs as a solo recitalist and has been the soloist in various oratorios including Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai, Mozart’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. She has also been a soloist in works including Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music. Opera highlights include the title role in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Galatea (Acis and Galatea), Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), and Héro (Béatrice et Bénédict, scenes).

A keen small ensemble singer, Myrna has sung regularly with RCS Voices, with whom she has recorded for the RSNO and has performed in the St Magnus International Festival, the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe. She is proud to be an alumnus of the Genesis Sixteen 2017/18 programme with Harry Christophers. Myrna has also been an opera chorus member for the RCS, Blackbird Opera, and an RCS/Scottish Opera collaboration.

Myrna has won prizes including the Keldwyth Award, the AESS Courtney Kenny Award, and the Norma Greig French Song Prize, and she was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Handel Singing Competition in 2019. She has participated in courses including British Youth Opera, the Art of Song, and Samling Academy, and has had the benefit of working with outstanding vocal coaches including Patricia McMahon, Roderick Williams, Iain Burnside, Julia Lynch, and Joan Rodgers.

How the Award Helped

Myrna’s Dewar Arts Award helped her on to the Artist Masters programme at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.