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

Biography

All Asher has ever wanted since first playing the viola is to become a great violist. Brought up in Edinburgh, Asher won a scholarship to St Mary’s Music School at the age of 14 to study the viola. He had taken up the instrument at the age of 8 and at 12 became a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Scotland. Asher went on to become a member of every National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and at 15 became a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

At the age of 16, Asher was invited to attend the “Ameropa Festival” in Prague with Scottish-born violist Paul Coletti. Subsequently he spent 5 months in America on a scholarship studying with Coletti. Asher is now a student of viola at the Royal Academy of Music. He was invited to Sweden to study with violist Lars Anders Tomter at the “Aurora Music Festival” and has performed in masterclasses with Hartmut Rohde, Roger Benedict and Jerzy Kosmala. By all who hear him play, Asher is considered to be an outstanding young violist with huge potential and a stellar career ahead of him.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help Asher towards his studies at the Royal Academy of Music.

Since the Award

Shortly after entering the Academy, Asher formed with three fellow students The Karelia String Quartet which won first prize in the Alexander and Buono International String Competition in late 2009. Part of the prize was a recital in the Carnegie Hall, New York City in late 2009. For more information, see www.kareliastringquartet.com.

Asher’s funding has been confirmed for a second year. After a very busy and productive second year, during which Asher with the Karelia String Quartet reached the quarter-finals of the International String Competition in Florence, won second prize in the RAM String Quartet competition and made their London performance debut in a concert at St John’s Smith Square. Asher’s funding is continued into his third year.

After an equally busy and challenging third year, his support has been continued into the fourth and final year.  Asher writes “my time at the Royal Academy of Music has been more wonderful than I could ever have imagined.”

Biography

Glasgow-born Daniel says simply that ‘music is my life and my ambition is to become an accomplished violinist’. Daniel currently leads both the West Dunbartonshire Schools and the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestras and is a member of NYOS. He has set his sights on studying music at Glasgow’s, RSAMD, where he currently attends the Junior Academy.

Daniel started to learn the piano when he was six and his natural ability immediately shone through. He has continued with both piano and violin, and his playing, both private and public, gives pleasure to many people.

As Daniel progressed with his violin studies, it became apparent that he needed a professional quality instrument to realise his potential as a violinist.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enables Daniel to buy a violin of professional standard

Since the Award

Since receiving the award, Daniel writes that he was able to buy a violin of quality which fitted his needs.  His playing improved immediately, benefiting from the virtuous circle of his being inspired to practice more on a violin of such quality.  When Daniel auditioned for conservatoires he was offered a place at RSAMD, Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music.  Daniel is now studying music at RSAMD and writes that “many of the achievements in my musical life would never have been possible without Dewar’s assistance.”