Biography

Alasdair Campbell is a Scottish violinist and fiddle player, who has been playing since early primary school. He says that “Music has been a prominent part of my life since and would be the first thing that many people associate me with”. During his school years, Alasdair was involved with various music groups, including the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and The Glasgow Schools’ String Orchestra.

Music has also been a very large part of Alasdair’s social life, he says: “Playing with friends at what are typically very social events such as Ceilidhs and weddings gives me immense enjoyment in a somewhat different way to a classical orchestral concert, which would have different demands yet be immensely enjoyable in different ways”.

Alasdair achieved a distinction in his Trinity Grade 8 violin exam with a mark of 93/100 overall. Alasdair performed with musicians from India in George Square at the Mela ‘Eadarainn’ project for the European Athletics Championships in 2018. He also had a solo performancein on fiddle at the ‘Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl’ concert, held in Glasgow’s City Halls in 2019.

Biography

Georgina MacDonell Finlayson is a violinist, composer, sound artist, and community arts practitioner from the North East of Scotland. She enjoys a varied portfolio of composing, performing, and teaching in both classical and traditional styles, and has a particular interest in multi-disciplinary performance.

In 2019, Georgina graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a first class degree in music, studying violin with Ruth Crouch. She frequently gave solo and chamber recitals, often sitting section principal in the university orchestras and in her final year leading Edinburgh University String Orchestra.

Her experience playing with orchestras and ensembles across Scotland and the UK include Nevis Ensemble, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, NYOS Futures and Camerata, Kellie Consort, Edinburgh Contemporary Music Ensemble, Dundee Symphony Orchestra, and major festivals such as the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe.

Georgina is also a performer and composer of traditional music, often working with live storytelling and theatre. She has appeared at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival and the Audacious Women Festival.

During her time at Edinburgh, Georgina began to find her own compositional voice, studying with Gareth Williams and Pippa Murphy. As a composer, her works have been played by members of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Red Note Ensemble and Any Enemy, performed at Aberdeen’s soundfestival and broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show.

Born and raised in a remote glen, her creative work is often influenced by her experiences of landscape, nature and traditional culture. She is fascinated by the ways in which traditional music and culture are so deeply connected with landscape and language, but also how this connection can be found in the fusion of classical and traditional music across the world.

How the Award Helped

After graduating in 2019, and with thanks to the support of the Dewar Arts Award, Georgina started an MMus in violin performance at the Royal Northern College of Music studying with Cath Yates and Pavel Fischer.

Biography

After studying at the Music School of Douglas Academy in 2013, Kirsty gained a scholarship for a Bachelor of Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Whilst at the RCS, Kirsty was awarded the Robert Highgate Prize for Excellence in Violin, the Mabel Glober String Prize for Chamber Music and was the reciprocate of the Thomas and Margaret Roddan Scholarship and the Wolfson Scholarship. She was selected to partake in the Cantilena Music Festival, where she performed solo and as part of the chamber orchestra.

In 2014, Kirsty was invited by Jacqueline Ross to take part in Festival MusicAlpe in France, and in 2015 she became a freelance member of the RSNO.

Kirsty has performed in venues including Perth Concert Hall, Edinburgh Usher Hall and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.  She has performed for numerous Music Series’ and Festivals including Westbourne Music Series, Rannoch Music Series and Glasgow Cathedral Festival. In 2016 she was invited to the Mendelssohn on Mull festival, where she performed with the Chilingirian Quartet in numerous venues.

In 2017, Kirsty became a freelance member of the Scottish Ballet and the English National Ballet, as well as graduating from the RCS with First Class Honours. She has performed as a session musician at high profile events including the Evanescence UK tour and alongside Susan Boyle.

Kirsty has taught violin and chamber music at RCS Summer Courses and also offers private tuition.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Daniel is an exceptionally talented, hard-working and ambitious musician who has always shown great passion for the violin.

Daniel began his studies at the age of nine with Justine Corr at his Primary school in South Queensferry, and then in 2014 he gained a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Department where he studied with Jane Lemoine.

At the Junior Conservatoire, Daniel led both the Symphony Orchestra and the String Ensemble for two years. He received Highly Commended in the Nan Christie String Prize in 2015 and in 2016 was runner up in the Concerto Competition.

Daniel performs regularly as a soloist. He has won the Waddell Medal in the Edinburgh Competition Festival and has given a solo recital at the Scottish Parliament for the First Ministers Portrait Exhibition. He has performed alongside Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham having been asked to arrange one of Phil Cunningham’s compositions.

Daniel has been a member of the first violin section of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, has performed at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, and in 2016 he co-led the Arts and Film Orchestra, performing the score to the 1927 silent film ’IT’ at the ISME Conference in Glasgow with Patrick Doyle.

In 2017, Daniel won a scholarship to study violin at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Philippe Honoré.

How the Award Helped

Daniel received an Award to support his musical studies on the four-year BMus (Hons) at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and his ambition to become a soloist and leader of a professional orchestra.

Biography

Born in Edinburgh, Sophie Williams began learning violin at the age of three. In 2009 she gained a place at St. Mary’s Music School, where she proved herself to be an outstanding violinist and a highly sensitive musician.  She won a host of chamber music and string prizes, as well as several medals from the Edinburgh Competition Festival.

A keen ensemble player, Sophie has performed widely throughout the UK including several concerts in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  She has played an active role in the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, and was invited to perform at the BBC Proms with the Symphony Orchestra.

Sophie has a formidable work ethic and has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities.  She has been a leader of the NYOS Senior Orchestra, and throughout her final year at St. Mary’s led the school’s orchestra and string ensembles.

In 2016, Sophie successfully attained places at four music conservatoires around the UK.  She chose to continue her studies at the prestigious Royal College of Music, London.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Andrew is a highly dedicated violinist who strives for excellence, and whose dream has always been to become a professional musician of the highest calibre.

Born in Aberdeen, Andrew has played with many local orchestras including the Aberdeen Sinfonietta and the Aberdeen Chamber Orchestra, as well as the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He was the deputy leader of the Grampian Youth Orchestra and the principal 2^nd violin for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, playing in the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms as part of their tour.

As well as playing in orchestras, Andrew has a great interest in chamber and choral music. He has been a chorister at St. Machar’s Cathedral in Aberdeen and was a member of the Aberdeen Bach Choir. He has played in various quartets and ensembles, including the Scottish Ensemble on their “Concerts by Candlelight” tour around Scotland.

Andrew gained a place to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.  This provided him with the opportunity to hone his skills and take the next steps towards achieving his dream.

How the Award Helped

Biography

From Aberdeen, Erin is studying music at the Royal Academy of Music. In 2006, she won a Daughter of Dewar award to buy a performance standard bow for her violin. At the time, her teacher at the Aberdeen City Music School described her as being in ‘league division one’. After finding the bow of her choice, Erin wrote that “playing with a bow of such high standard made such a difference to my sound and confidence.”

Erin began playing the violin at the age of four, playing mainly Scottish fiddle music. By the age of 12 she had won over 200 competitions, including the Scottish championships six times in a row and the National Mod three times in a row. She has appeared on live radio and TV and performed at both parliaments in Westminster and Holyrood. She gave an outstanding performance at First Minister, Alex Salmond’s, Homecoming 2009 event.

Erin has been a member of Scotland’s National Children’s Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra, National Youth String Ensemble and Camerata Scotland. After being invited to play at the prestigious Glenfiddich competition, she decided to concentrate on classical music. She was accepted by all the major UK conservatoires, choosing to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Aberdeen born and bred, Kay moved to Glasgow at 17 to study violin at RSAMD, graduating with a first-class degree in music and the top mark in her year. She moved to Manchester to pursue a master of music at RNCM, where she studies with Pavel Fischer.

At RNCM, Kay has enjoyed many performing opportunities and has led every college ensemble, from the tight-knit ‘new ensemble’ to the symphony orchestra. She led the orchestra in the summer of 2010 residency at the Cantiere festival in Montepulciano. Kay has also performed with some big Scottish names, including Donnie Munro, Capercaillie, and Alasdair McCulloch. She was a member of the True North Orchestra when it opened 2009’s Celtic Connections.

Kay was accepted onto the BBC Philharmonic professional access scheme, with whom she had the thrilling experience of playing works such as Mahler’s Sixth and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. She is also part of a quartet which has enjoyed success, winning the Hirsch quartet prize and performing in the prestigious RNCM chamber festival. Flushed with this success the quartet plans to take part in external music competitions in the future.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help towards the second year costs of the master of music at RNCM.

Since the Award