Chair of the trustees Dave Cowing said: “We had the most exceptional field of candidates this year so it was incredibly hard to choose just four to receive grants. We are delighted that, in addition to supporting the development of our recipients’ musical careers, we have been able to help important new music projects come to life that will leave a real legacy.”
The grants go to:
Hugh Sheehan
Composer and musician Hugh has been awarded a grant towards mixing and mastering his debut album, Lost Time. The album explores the journeys that many LGBTQ+ people make in order to live a true and authentic life.
Hugh said:
“Within the music industry’s current economic model, creating a substantial recorded musical work is a considerable financial challenge for an artist towards the beginning of their career. I’m immensely grateful to the Alan Surtees Trust for its support in helping bring my work to fruition.”
Twitter | Instagram | www.hughsheehan.com
Photograph by Aapo Huhta
Ellie Gowers
Music graduate Ellie will use her grant to embark on a project writing and recording new music for a future album.
Ellie said:
“I am so grateful that the Alan Surtees Trust has chosen to give me this opportunity. Over the next year, I shall be working on a new piece of music that involves a collective of new songs that I am really excited to release. This grant will go towards funding this project including research, recording and promoting, making it less stressful and leaving me with no restrictions.
“I’m honoured that the Alan Surtees Trust believes in and trusts in me enough to aid in this project and I really can’t thank them enough!
Phoebe Rees
Phoebe is a fiddle player and singer who will spend her bursary on promotional video material including design work and photos for her website.
Phoebe said:
“I’m so pleased and thankful to receive this grant from the Alan Surtees Trust. I am excited to get started with creating the promotional material for my EP and I look forward to sharing it. Thank you!”
Lewis Wood
Traditional violinist, multi-instrumentalist and composer Lewis will put his funding towards recording dancers for his debut solo album of original tunes written for English step dancing.
Lewis said:
“It really means an awful lot to be accepted for this bursary. The album can now sound how I wanted it to all along. The trust is doing an incredible thing by supporting emerging artists like myself, especially in such a difficult time for the arts and deserve all the support they can get. I can’t thank them enough.”