2006 Awardee: Laura McKinlay

I am delighted and privileged to accept this Award

Biography

From the age of seven, Laura’s driving ambition has been to become a professional musician.
Currently a student at the RSAMD, Laura has already distinguished herself by playing with two of Scotland’s youth orchestras, the National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth String Orchestra.

She has also been leader of the Repertoire orchestra of NYOS, her Local Council orchestra and School orchestra.
Amongst the prizes and awards she has already won are the Bach class at the Glasgow Music Festival and a bursary to attend the European Youth Summer Music Course in Hertfordshire.

In common with a lot of the young musicians at the RSAMD, Laura has a keen interest in Scottish traditional music and plays in a ceilidh band.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Awards bought Laura a performance quality violin.

Since the Award

After trying several violins, Laura eventually decided on a Chinese violin made in 2005. As its first owner, she has enjoyed breaking it in and notices that it continues to grow in its capabilities and tone.  She writes, “My new violin is capable of much more advanced techniques than my old one .. and because of this, my musical understanding also progresses further.”

I am delighted and privileged to accept this Award