Biography

Jonathan, from Bishopbriggs, is the first member of his family to be musical. He learnt to play the Highland bagpipes at the age of 12 and quickly developed a passion to play and perform to the highest standard. He is now studying music at Scotland’s own conservatoire, the RSAMD.

Jonathan has a particular love for, and interest in, traditional music. Last year he won his first solo competition in Skye, and has played at many of the major traditional music concerts, including Celtic Connections and Piping Live. He is a member of the elite National Youth Pipe Band and was the Pipe Sergeant at the Soroptimist Convention in Glasgow.

Last year Jonathan performed with the 98th Highlanders, with Cantara, at an International Celtic Music festival.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Although still only in the first year of his degree in Scottish Music (piping) at the RSAMD, Alasdair is, according to his mentor, a big piping talent ready to burst out in all directions. Currently he is a member of the pipers’ “boy band” TNT (The New Tradition) which recently won a recording contract with Greentrax records.

Alasdair began to learn piping at the age of eleven. He was first taught by his uncle and now he is taught by the renowned Major Gavin Stoddart. He quickly showed huge potential by winning a Mod gold medal and becoming the National Piping Centre overall junior champion and the Scottish Junior Champion.

Alasdair plays with the ScottishPower Pipe Band as well as TNT. In 2007 he won a Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections. He is considered to be amongst a handful of the most talented young pipers in Scotland today.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Alasdair to buy a set of Fred Morrison border/reel pipes.

Biography

Edinburgh-born Steven has been a music scholar at Stewart Melville’s College for seven years, the first piper to receive such a scholarship. He started learning the Highland bagpipes at a young age, winning many solo competitions, including the Stirlingshire Mod and the Lothian and Borders solo contest, culminating in becoming the Scottish Schools’ Piobaireachd Champion three years’ running. He was the Pipe Major of the School’s band for several years.

More recently Steven learned the Scottish Smallpipes and formed a band within the school to play contemporary traditional music, and then later started to learn the low whistle. When he reached the semi-final stage of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Steven decided to progress to the Uillean pipes, which draws together his piping and whistle playing skills. The following year he reached the final stage of the prestigious competition. Steven also plays the piano.

Steven is considered to be one of the most talented young pipers in Scotland. He is equally at home with traditional piping, contemporary folk music and composition and possesses a unique style of playing which sets him apart from his peers. He intends to make music his career and has recently been accepted onto Glasgow’s RSAMD degree course in Scottish Piping.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Connor Sinclair is the youngest winner of a Dewar Arts Award.

The director of the National Young Pipe Band of Scotland looks for the very best to join his band. The key criteria being ability, character and commitment, which, he says, Connor has in abundance. “To find someone who has these qualities at this high standard at such a young age is without doubt a sign of something very special.”

From Crieff, Perthshire, Connor is the youngest of five boys. He is passionate about piping and spent his ninth birthday money on highland dress so that he could enter solo piping competitions. He has already achieved success, often competing against youngsters considerably older than him.

Connor hopes to make music his career, and to that end is learning to play the violin and piano to help him gain entry to a musical secondary school.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award funded tuition on the Highland pipes, and the associated travel costs, at the Piping Centre in Glasgow.

Since the Award

As a result of the tuition, Connor’s mother writes that his confidence has grown. Through a chance meeting, Connor has formed a friendship with First Minister, Alex Salmond, who has subsequently requested Connor pipe him into various functions. Connor was also invited to play at the Glasgow auditions for the X Factor ‘to give them a Scottish feel’, and of course he played at our own 10th anniversary Showcase.

Connor is now a pupil of the City of Edinburgh Music School and has enjoyed successes in many Scottish piping competitions. At the Perthshire Music Festival he was awarded the highest score so far awarded in any of the classes.

Biography

Seventeen-year-old Hazel Turnbull hopes to study Scottish Music when she finishes school in 2007. Currently she is part of the RSAMD YouthWorks programme for Scottish Music and Pipes.

Brought up in Livingston, Hazel has been an integral player in the Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Juvenile Pipe Band for over four years. The band was runner-up in the 2006 Scottish Championships and accepts only the top young players into its pipe corps. Hazel is also lead percussionist in her school band. Her other interests are writing poetry and short stories.

Hazel has the vital attributes to be a successful piper, namely raw talent, drive and dedication. To reach the highest level, though, a player needs a top quality instrument to work with, which is why she approached the Dewar Arts Awards for assistance.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards funded the purchase of a set of Henderson Classic Highland bagpipes.

Since the Award

Biography

Stuart’s first set of bagpipes were bought for him by his grandparents. Two years later he joined the Arbroath Royal British Legion Pipe Band, and then progressed to become piper with the Grade 1 David Urquhart Pipes and Drums.

In 2002 he was selected to play for the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland and in 2003 became Champion Piper at the Pitlochry Solo Competition. As well as being a piper of great potential, Stuart plays acoustic and electric guitar and writes and arranges his own music.

Currently studying at RSAMD, Glasgow, Stuart, who hails from Dundee, plans to pursue a career in Scottish traditional music. He is particularly interested in experimenting with the fusion of Scottish music with rock, pop and jazz.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will enable Stuart to buy a new set of border pipes.

Since the Award

Biography

Despite being only 12, Joseph had already achieved major goals in uilleann pipe playing when he was nominated for an Award.

Joseph, from Glasgow, showed rare and exceptional talent in pipe playing and in 2003 became both the under 12 Scottish and under 12 British Champion. In 2004 he retained his Scottish title.

Joseph’s tutor, also a well-known uilleann pipe player, writes of him that “there is the potential for him to join such world class players as Liam O’Flynn or even the late great Seamus Ennis.”

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Joseph to have a set of uilleann pipes made for him.

Since the Award

Since taking possession of the new set of pipes, Joseph has continued his winning streak, in 2006 coming first and second in two competitions at the All Britain piping Championships. In 2008 he finally achieved his goal of becoming the Under 18 All Britain Champion. Congratulations, Jo.

He writes, “If I had not been successful in getting a Dewar Arts Award, I would not have been able to continue playing the pipes as the old set that I had were falling apart. I was losing interest. Getting the new set gave me so much encouragement, knowing that someone else had faith in my talent. It has meant so much to me.”

Biography

Teenage piper, Chris MacDonald, started playing the bagpipes at 10 and is now one of the top young solo pipers in Scotland.

He is the first piper from Inverness to become a member of the National Youth Pipe Band. To achieve that honour he had to undergo a three-day audition and face competition from 200 other young hopefuls.

Chris has played in the world championships as a member of the Inverness Pipe Band and has won a number of solo competitions including the Inverness Music Festival and the Inverness Mod. At the age of 15 he opened the Inverness Highland Games.

His aim is to study traditional music at the RSAMD, Glasgow.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Chris to upgrade his bagpipes to a set of McCallum Bagpipes, which will help him continue to play at the level he is required.