2019 Awardee: Joshua Parkhill

"The Dewar Arts Award has allowed me...to play to my full potential while studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland"

Biography

Originally from Ayr, Joshua started playing brass instruments in the Salvation Army through their learner program at the age of four. When he started high school, his grandfather gave him and old trombone out of his loft and then started teaching himself how to play it.

Towards the end of high school, he took part in the Ayrshire music festival where he won the Open Brass Category and then went on to win the Overall Best Instrumentalist. This was where he won The Elizabeth McNair Trophy, James M Clark Prize for Instrumental Music and The John R Chalmers Trophy. After spending two years at the Junior Conservatoire getting taught by Alastair Sinclair he started studying full time at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2019 where he is taught by Lance Green on a scholarship place. Currently Joshua enjoys plays with Dalmellington brass band.

Joshua’s ambitions as a trombone player are to graduate the Royal Conservatoire and work as a freelancer in Glasgow. He has a passion for teaching and community outreach through music which he discovered while volunteering to give music lessons at the same learner’s program where he learned how to play.

How the Award Helped

Joshua’s Award helped him to make repairs to his trombone, enabling him to progress in his studies and performance.

"The Dewar Arts Award has allowed me...to play to my full potential while studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland"