Biography

Originally from Edinburgh, Tallulah Molleson grew up in a musical family and became involved with music and performance from a young age. She attended St Mary’s Music School as a chorister and at age 11 began studying saxophone, which led her to discover an interest in jazz. She went on to play in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra and Strathclyde Youth Jazz Orchestra where she further developed this focus.

Whilst playing with big bands, Tallulah developed personal projects merging jazz, neo-soul and hip hop. With fellow musicians Max Carsley, Euan Crawford-Mckee and Mark Sandford, she recorded ‘Marzi’ an EP of original music and jazz standards. With this group, she performed at various venues in Edinburgh and at the Kelburn music festival.

In September 2019, Tallulah began studying Jazz Saxophone at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam where she continued to explore her musical ideas, fusing her singing and saxophone playing with inspiration from the many other talented students. Finding the environment stimulating, Tallulah developed her compositional skills, drawing from jazz, hip hop and groove music along her musical journey.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Interested in music from a very young age, Rachel initially wanted to learn the flute. That was until she went to hear Russell Cowieson play in a jazz concert. She fell in love with the saxophone immediately, and went on to have lessons with Cowieson for the following six years.

Hailing from Mid-Calder, Rachel first studied at the RSAMD Junior Academy. She later won a place at the RSAMD to study music, impressing with her natural talent combined with strong work ethic.

Rachel is a talented chamber musician and has set up a saxophone quartet. Her ambition is to be a professional musician, ideally playing her beloved jazz.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Lynsey, who hails from Cumbernauld, started learning to play the saxophone when she was eleven. She attended the Douglas Academy of Music where she had lessons in the saxophone with Josef Pacewicz. When she progressed to the RSAMD, Glasgow, she continued to study with Joseph Pacewicz.
Lynsey graduated with a BA (Hons), specialising in saxophone and wooden flute. She is particularly passionate about chamber music and has played in a number of saxophone quartet line-ups over the past few years.

In 2005, while still a student, Lynsey won the prestigious Governor’s Recital Prize in Chamber Music and the Mary D Adams Prize for Chamber Music with her quartet ‘Sax-Ecosse’. (For more details, see www.sax-ecosse.co.uk) In 2006 ‘Sax-Ecosse’ performed for Bill Clinton during his visit to Glasgow in May of that year, and for the Lord Provost of Glasgow, with guest of honour, Cherie Blair.

Thanks to a Scottish Arts Council grant, Lynsey has been taking lessons in Switzerland for the past year and a half with Bruce Weiberger of the world-famous Rascher Saxophone Quartet, during which time she transformed herself into ‘one of the finest baritone saxophone players in Europe.’

How the Award Helped

Lynsey is being assisted to pursue a Masters specialising in baritone saxophone performance at SUNY, Fredonia, USA.

Since the Award

Biography

Perth-born Fraser started to play saxophone at the relatively late age of 14. His natural-born talent soon got him noticed and he gained a coveted place in Tommy Smith’s Youth Jazz Orchestra and in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Fraser is the second Dewar Arts Award recipient to go to Berklee. According to Tommy Smith, Fraser was light years ahead of players his age before he went to Berklee College of Music. Since he’s been there, Fraser has continued to impress, making the Dean’s list (an American college honour for scoring consistently top marks across the board) in consecutive semesters.

Fraser wanted to study at Berklee because he believed that was where he would best develop musically as a jazz composer and performer. After his first year there, Tommy Smith said that he “definitely has all the tools at his disposal to become a truly great musician and ambassador for Scotland. Through his ever growing talents … I can see him go far.”

How the Award Helped

Fraser received a Dewar Arts Award to support his studies at Berklee College of Music, Boston.

Since the Award

Fraser graduated from Berklee with a dual major degree in Performance and Jazz Composition summa cum laude.  He also won the Quincy Jones Award, for excellence in Harmony and Performance.  At his graduation ceremony Fraser played one of his compositions.  Currently Fraser is getting himself established in the Scottish jazz scene.