2015 Awardee: Tamara Hardy

"It’s truly amazing to have come so far, and I would like to thank the Dewar Arts Awards for helping me to go even further."

YEAR OF AWARD: 2015
AGE AT AWARD: 21
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

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

In 2015, Tam went on to gain a place on the Masters of Music course at the Royal Academy of Music. Her Dewar Arts Award enabled her to accept her place, and to fully benefit from the opportunity to realise her potential.

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"It’s truly amazing to have come so far, and I would like to thank the Dewar Arts Awards for helping me to go even further."

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2015 Awardee: Kieran Lambie

This award benefits me because it will allow me to continue gaining experience as an instrumental teacher...and will help me further enhance my performing experience.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2015
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Kieran Lambie is an outstanding classical musician, whose ambition is to play and teach clarinet professionally. His memorable solo performances of a demanding repertoire have garnered acclaim, and his passion for teaching is matched by his focus and determination.

Kieran is patient, diligent, and ambitious.  He has played in numerous musical ensembles, gained a distinction in his Grade 8 musical examinations and achieved a BA in Music Performance with a Distinction from Edinburgh College.

He intends to develop his practice through teaching and performing a range of styles of music, and has a promising future as a professional musician.

How the Award Helped

Kieran’s award enabled him to continue his professional development, through instrumental lessons and by undertaking two Trinity College qualifications: an ATCL in Instrumental Teaching and an LTCL in Performance.

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This award benefits me because it will allow me to continue gaining experience as an instrumental teacher...and will help me further enhance my performing experience.

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2014 Awardee: Juliet Montgomery

The generous support of the Dewar Arts Awards has allowed my aspirations of postgraduate study to become a reality! Thank you.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Juliet is a soprano with a voice of distinctive quality.  Born in Stirling, she grew up in a musical environment; her mother is a freelance musician who plays and teaches violin and viola.  Juliet attended Stageworx Stage School for six years before beginning tuition in classical singing.  She then went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

During her time as an undergraduate student she proved herself to be “an intelligent, musical singer of promise and a joy to teach”.  On graduating with a First Class Bachelor of Music (Honours), she was offered a coveted place for postgraduate study, reserved for only those students with the greatest talent and potential.

Juliet has played key roles in numerous operatic productions and has performed as a recitalist in a wide variety of venues including the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Halifax Minster and the Bridgewater Hall.  She has also performed solo for the prestigious Bulava Chorus, at the Notre Dame in Paris and the Cathedral of Resurrection in Kiev.

How the Award Helped

Juliet’s Award enabled her to benefit from postgraduate study at the RNCM.

She first completed a postgraduate diploma, and then received a further award to supporto continue her studies on the Masters of Music in Performance course. This course is designed to provide advanced training in solo performance.  As well as world-class one to one vocal tuition and performance opportunities, the course includes regular coaching sessions, language classes, repertoire classes, movement classes, Alexander Technique, acting technique and audition skills classes, equipping Juliet with the knowledge and experience needed to become a professional opera singer.

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The generous support of the Dewar Arts Awards has allowed my aspirations of postgraduate study to become a reality! Thank you.

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2014 Awardee: Graham McCusker

"Without the Dewar Award I would not have been able to afford to continue my training as an aspiring classical singer"

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
EMAIL:graham.mccusker@hotmail.com
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/biffyjust

Biography

Born in Glasgow to a musical family (his father an opera singer and his mother a singing teacher), Graham grew up in Paisley and began singing at the age of five in the Paisley Abbey Choir.  During his 16 years as a chorister he became Head Boy (age 9) and Choral Scholar (age 15).

As a treble, Graham sang with the Scottish Opera and the RSAMD (now the RCS). He also learned piano and continued his studies at the Junior RSAMD before gaining a place at the Douglas Academy Music School.  During this time he developed his performance skills by singing with a number of choirs, including the National Youth Chamber Choir of Scotland, the RSNO Chorus and the RSAMD Chamber Choir.

Graham went on to tutor at the Renfrewshire Schools Senior Choir and then to study at the Royal Northern College of Music. He has developed a strong reputation as a performer, both solo and ensemble, and has sung at events as diverse as the proms at the Royal Albert Hall and a Radio 2 live session for Boy George and Clean Bandit (with the BBC Philharmonic).

Graham’s ambition is to pursue a career as a classical soloist.

How the Award Helped

Graham received a Dewar Award to fund a Postgraduate Diploma in Solo Performance at the RNCM, and a further award for a masters degree, providing the perfect next step towards achieving his ambitions.

Since the Award

Graham attained his undergraduate degree at the Royal Northern College of Music. In his second year he was chosen as one of the apostles for performances and a recording of Elgar’s The Apostles. Performances included concerts at the Bridgewater Hall and a prom at the Royal Albert Hall. The CD gained the Gramophone Recording of the Year, amongst other awards, and No. 4 in the classical charts.

Highlights as a soloist include performing Schubert’s Mass in G, Bach’s B Minor Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s no. 9th symphony, Brahms’ German Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. Graham regularly sings with the BBC Daily Service Singers on Radio 4 and is a Lay Clerk at Manchester Cathedral.

On the opera stage, Graham was a young artist with Buxton Opera Festival for two years. Roles for the RNCM include Bogdanovich in The Merry Widow and Abraham Kaplan in Street Scene. He went on to be accepted on the chorus list with Scottish Opera.

In his final year of Masters at the RNCM Graham studied with Nick Powell. A composer in his spare time, he has written personal material as well as collaborating professionally. He acted as a composer and music director for the BBC & HBO series ‘His Dark Materials’.  He also writes for Oxford University Press and MacMillan Publishers.

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"Without the Dewar Award I would not have been able to afford to continue my training as an aspiring classical singer"

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2014 Awardee: Clara Hyder

I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Awards for giving me the financial assistance to develop into the best musician I can be. I am so excited for all that the next four years will bring. Thank you.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.clarahyder.co.uk/
EMAIL:swan.34@hotmail.co.uk
 

Biography

Clara took up the trumpet aged 7 and moved to St Mary’s Music School as a chorister when she was 9. During her time there she went on tour, recorded CDs and became head chorister in her final year.  At 14 she gained a place as an instrumentalist at the school.  Alongside her studies she took part in the school orchestra, chamber groups and brass ensemble, won a number of prizes and became Head Girl.

Not only has Clara achieved an extremely high level of technical and expressive competence, she has also been an active leader of numerous projects.  She takes great joy in sharing music with the community, and has developed work with special needs groups as well as forming links with writers, poets, artists and fellow musicians.

Clara has performed at the Edinburgh International Book festival and with The New Theatre Company on the Isle of Man.

As well as being an outstanding trumpet player, Clara is also a fine harpist, singer, and gifted actress. She has earned the distinction of being the first person ever to be accepted as a joint 1st study trumpeter and classical harpist at one of the world’s leading music colleges, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

How the Award Helped

Clara’s Award will support her in her studies at the Guildhall School, where she intends to develop the skills to accomplish her dreams as a musician as well as sharing her passion for music with others.

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I am extremely grateful to the Dewar Awards for giving me the financial assistance to develop into the best musician I can be. I am so excited for all that the next four years will bring. Thank you.

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2014 Awardee: Adam Crighton

If it wasn't for the extremely generous support of the trust I would not be able to be where I am, getting the best possible training for career I wish to have.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Adam is a highly talented and hard working young trombonist.

Growing up in Aberdeen, Adam learned to play the trombone through the council’s music education scheme and spent several years playing with bands and ensembles.  In 2011 he moved to Edinburgh to study at St Mary’s Music School, where he proved himself to be a prodigious talent.  His aptitude for intonation, rhythmic integrity and tonal blend ensured he stood out as a performer. Excellent as a soloist and within an ensemble, Adam undertook a number of engagements outside of school where he was already able to fit into a professional section.

Alongside his trombone studies at St Mary’s, Adam also passed his grade 8 piano.  He won the brass section of the Aberdeen Music Festival in 2013 and was a finalist in the St Mary’s School Director’s Recital Prize in 2014.  Highly motivated, Adam enjoys performing a wide variety of music and aspires to become a professional trombonist.

In 2014, Adam gained a place to study at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.  This had been a dream of his since he had first visited the school aged 12.  The BMus Classical Trombone course offered the perfect opportunity to advance his skills to the next level, and to help him to achieve his ambitions.

How the Award Helped

Adam received a Dewar Award to support his studies at the Guilhall School of Music and Drama.

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If it wasn't for the extremely generous support of the trust I would not be able to be where I am, getting the best possible training for career I wish to have.

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2014 Awardee: Christos Stylianides

Receiving the award means an incredible amount to me. Without it I would have struggled tremendously to finance myself during my studies here in Birmingham.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Christos began playing trumpet aged 10.  He developed a keen interest in jazz from an early age and performed with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, as well as numerous regional and community big bands in and around Glasgow.

Christos has taken part in the Young Scottish Jazz Competition twice, and in 2012 was runner up in the Under 17s category. In 2014 he gained a place to study on the BMus (Hons) in Jazz at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

Since Christos enjoys a variety of music alongside jazz, he aspires to become a session musician and work on a range of projects.

How the Award Helped

Christos received an award to help finance his studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

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Receiving the award means an incredible amount to me. Without it I would have struggled tremendously to finance myself during my studies here in Birmingham.

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2014 Awardee: Drishti Bundhoo

The Dewar Arts Awards has created a wealth of opportunities for me as a young singer and for this I thank you very much. It is an honour and privilege to be supported by this distinguished trust.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: , , ,
 
 
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/drishtibundhoo

Biography

Drishti Bundhoo is a hard-working and passionate musician whose aim is to connect emotionally to the music she performs and to find her individual voice.

Born in Crosshouse, East Ayrshire, Drishti was brought up in a musical household in Kilmarnock.  Her Mauritius-born mother studied Indian classical music, and has performed and taught in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Drishti’s singing talent was prominent from a very early age. She trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a scholarship to complete her BMus (Hons) in 2014, and studied Spanish classical music for six months in Andalusia.

An engaging performer, Drishti has given solo recitals around the UK, Spain, India and Germany. Most recent performances have included engagements with Indian composer AR Rahman and the BBCSSO at Celtic Connections in 2014, performance for the UK WW1 Centenary commemoration service at Glasgow Cathedral and solo performances at the Glasgow  2014 Commonwealth Games.

How the Award Helped

Drishti’s award has allowed her to study a Masters at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she has performed the role of Susanna in Mozart’s opera Le Nozze de Figaro and the role of Tina in Jonathan Dove’s opera Flight.

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The Dewar Arts Awards has created a wealth of opportunities for me as a young singer and for this I thank you very much. It is an honour and privilege to be supported by this distinguished trust.

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2014 Awardee: Paul Devlin

Being part of that creative process is an experience I find both exhilarating and exciting, and one that compares to no other.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 25
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Paul is a talented composer with a distinctive voice. Having grown up in Scotland, he gained a First Class Honours Degree in Music from Strathclyde University and recieved their Stone Award for excellence in his composition portfolio.

After graduation, Paul was awarded a commission from Glasgow City Council (on behalf of Glasgow Celtic FC) to compose a piece in remembrance of the Jewish Holocaust. He went on to gain a coveted place to study an MMus in Screen Composition at the Royal College of Music in London.

Paul has a genuine passion for the creative process and the art of taking music from page to performance. He apires to become a professional composer for screen with a broad range of knowledge across many musical styles and genres. His studies at the RCM have provided an invaluable foundation from which to shape his ambitions.

How the Award Helped

Paul received a Dewar Award to support his second year of MMus studies, enabling him to fully benefit from the opportunity to flourish as a composer.

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Being part of that creative process is an experience I find both exhilarating and exciting, and one that compares to no other.

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2014 Awardee: Donald Robinson

To be invited by Professor Baillie to study with him in Bremen is a wonderful opportunity for me and I am so grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for making it possible.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2014
AGE AT AWARD: 17
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Glaswegian cellist Donald Robinson is one of Scotland’s most gifted young musicians.  His extraordinary talent and and unique creativity extends to both his playing and his composition.

Donald studied at the Douglas Music Academy and has won prizes in the Glasgow Music Festival for solo, chamber and orchestral work.  As the Principal Cello in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, he took part in projects with NYOS Futures and NYOS Camerata as well as collaborations with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the Proms.

In 2013, Donald made his concerto debut at the Perth Concert Hall playing the Saint-Saens Piano Concerto with the NYOS Juniors. He has also performed as part of the Sphere Concert Series in Glasgow with pianist Julia Lynch (see below).

Donald is tipped to become one of his generation’s most important musical ambassadors.

How the Award Helped

Donald’s Dewar Award enabled him to attend the Hochschule fur Kunste in Bremen where he was offered a place to study with the eminent cellist Alexander Baillie.

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To be invited by Professor Baillie to study with him in Bremen is a wonderful opportunity for me and I am so grateful to the Dewar Arts Awards for making it possible.

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