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Speech:
Jane R. Mowat, D.S.D. (RBTC), L.R.A.M., F.E.S.B.
Jane Mowat trained at Rose Bruford College of Speech and
Drama in London and then at Jordanhill College of Education. After
teaching for a short while in England, she joined the Aberdeen City
Schools’ Drama Department, later teaching English, Communications and
Drama at Aberdeen College of Commerce before joining the Drama
Department at Jordanhill.
In recent years she has been an examiner for the English Speaking Board
throughout the UK, including Guernsey, and an adjudicator member of the
British and International Federation of Festivals, this work also taking
her all over the UK and Ireland as well as five visits to the Hong Kong
Festival.
She really enjoys the work of all the competitors in the Festivals and
is looking forward to her return visit to Perth.
Scottish Country Dancing:
Neil M. Grant
Neil Grant started his dancing
life aged 4-5 years, taking Highland Dancing lessons, continuing in this
dancing sphere into his teens and, in his late teens, took an interest
in Scottish Country Dancing. He became a member of the Forres Branch of
the R.S.C.D.S. in 1960, gaining my teacher’s certificate in 1964.
He then took dancing, both Highland and Scottish Country, more seriously
and appeared on stage and Grampian TV. He was approached by the
late Miss Jean Milligan and invited to teach the Mens' Highland Class at
R.S.C.D.S. Summer School in St. Andrews which he did for more than a
decade. While at Summer School he was always selected to dance in the
demonstration team.
He has been teaching the Forres Branch of R.S.C.D.S. since 1980 and
became an adjudicator and assessor for the R.S.C.D.S. in the late 90's
going on to adjudicate at Ayr, Dundee, Oban, Newcastle, Badenoch and
Perth. He has taught Scottish Country Dancing world wide over the years
at all levels, including training candidates for examinations to become
teachers.
Piping Classes: Jim Butler
Jim Butler started his
piping as a teenager with the Army Cadet Force and has since played in
various bands, including around 20 years with Paisley (now Chivas Regal)
Pipe Band, most of these as Pipe Sergeant. He has travelled extensively
with the pipes, including engagements in France, Canada, Norway and the
Canary Islands. Four years ago he took early retirement from his post
as Principal Teacher of Art & Design in St Andrew’s Academy, Saltcoats
and now teaches piping in N. Ayrshire schools. Jim has adjudicated at
the Arran Music Festival, the Arran Folk Festival, Brodick Highland
Games and the Inverclyde and Renfrew Music Festival. He also had the
honour of being Chieftain at the Ardrossan Highland Games in 2001.
Bands and
Orchestras: Alan Fernie
Alan Fernie was born in 1960 in the Scots mining village
of Newtongrange. He learned to play the trombone at school, soon
joining the local brass band, and went on to study music in Glasgow and
London. After a short period as an orchestral player, he moved into
instrumental teaching. During this time he began conductig and has gone
on to direct bands at all levels, winning many awards. He began writing
for brass whilst still a student and his music is now played and
recorded by bands around the world. Now living in the Scottish Borders,
he works as a freelance musician, finding time to write, conduct, teach,
adjudicate, lecture, perform and compère
throughout the UK and beyond. Alan is a member of the Association of
Brass Band Adjudicators as well as being accredited by the British &
International Federation of Music Festivals.
Piano and Organ: Walter Blair
One of
Scotland’s most versatile musicians, Walter has combined a career in
music education with that of performing musician in the profession.
The first Director of the specialist Music School at Douglas Academy,
Milngavie, he was Director of the Junior Academy RSAMD from 1983-1994
and Associate Director of Music RSAMD from 1994-2000. His association
with RSAMD continues as a part time accompanist.
As an accompanist, he has worked with many well known musicians
including clarinetist John Cushing, trumpeters John Wallace and Mark
O’Keeffe, and percussionist Heather Corbett. Singers include Patricia
MacMahon, Margaret Marshall, Linda Ormiston, Neil Mackie, Peter
Morrison, Kenneth McKellar and the late Bill McCue.
An experienced organist and choral trainer, he was an examiner, trainer
and moderator for the Associated Board for many years and leads
professional development courses for teachers in this country and Hong
Kong.
His remarkable versatility means that he is equally at home in concert,
recital, cabaret or recording studio.
Strings: Mark Duncan
Mark
Duncan was born in 1959 in Kuala Lumpur of Scottish/German parents and
studied violin at RSAMD and Guildhall School of Music. He played with
many of the major British Orchestras before settling at Scottish Opera.
At age 27 he was appointed a violin professor at the RSAMD and also
Douglas Academy Music School. For the past 16 years he has been
Director of the National Youth String Orchestra of Scotland and
directs many Chamber Music Courses in Scotland. He has frequently
conducted the NYOS & NCOS training Courses and for the past 13 years has
been Head of Strings at the High School of Glasgow. Mark is an
experienced adjudicator and, with his wife, plays in the Buchanan Trio.
Brass: Bryan Allen
Bryan Allen
is Head of Brass and Orchestral Co-ordinator at the Royal Scottish
Academy of Music and Drama, where his responsibilities include
directorship of several ensembles, including Royal Scottish Academy
Brass, and the RSAMD Wind Orchestra, Big Band and Brass Band. Prior to
his current appointment, which he took up in 1995, he enjoyed a varied
career, primarily as a trumpet player for 17 years with the world
renowned Fine Arts Brass Ensemble, touring in over 50 countries, given
over 100 TV and radio broadcasts, and making countless commercial
recordings.
In addition, he has worked with the majority of Britain’s leading
symphony, opera, chamber and studio orchestras, and was co-principal
trumpet with the English Symphony Orchestra from 1980 - 1995, appearing
as soloist on numerous occasions.
Bryan is now much in demand in a variety of fields - as conductor,
teacher, examiner, and arranger, and has given masterclasses and
workshops at leading conservatoires worldwide. He is the Director of
Brass Explosion in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, and of Brass
Spectacular, held biannually in Scotland.
Bryan has adjudicated for numerous prestigious competitions and awards,
including BBC Young Musician, European Solo Championships, Scottish Solo
and Brass Band Championships, the Yamaha Foundation Awards as well as
numerous music festivals locally and nationally.
Woodwind: Heather Nicoll
Heather Nicoll has been Head of
Woodwind at RSAMD since 2002 and is a former member of and soloist with
Perth Youth Orchestra. She took part in Perthshire Musical
(Competition) Festival and is a previous winner of the Premier Trophy in
addition to being awarded the Louis J. Barnett Memorial Trophy for
Woodwind for four consecutive years.
Heather enjoys a diverse performing career as a clarinettist and has
played with all the leading Scottish orchestras, including featuring as
soloist with RSNO. She has also worked with contemporary music
ensembles including Paragon, Chamber Group of Scotland and the
London-based Sinfonia 21 in addition to doing a large quantity of
recording work.
Other Music Classes: Harry
Stevenson
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