Highland musician memorial fund supports talented University of the Highlands and Islands students
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A fund created in memory of an Inverness musician who died while on an overseas break is giving two University of the Highlands and Islands students a helping hand at the start of their own musical career.
Lisa Hope (27) from Edinburgh and Grant Irvine (25) from Perth have been named the 2021 recipients of the University of the Highlands and Islands Liam Colgan music student awards.
The two winners, both of whom studied at Perth College UHI and graduated this year with a first-class BA (hons) popular music degree, will each receive £500 towards a mentoring opportunity with a renowned songwriter and producer of their choice.
Dr Seán McLaughlin, BA (Hons) popular music programme leader, said both musicians had produced exceptional work this year in very trying times.
"I was hugely impressed by their work ethic and the sheer volume of creative labour that went into their songs," he added.
"It was equally commendable that these projects involved elements of national and international collaboration despite lockdowns and travel restrictions. I have no doubt that they will each continue to produce outstanding popular music long into the future, and I wish them every success in their creative practice."
The fund commemorates 29-year-old Liam Colgan, who was well known on the Highland music scene as both a solo performer and band member.
He went missing in Hamburg while visiting the German city with friends in February 2018, but despite an intensive search, it more than two months before his body was found in the River Elbe.
Commenting on his award, Grant Irvine said: "My time at university was wonderful. Studying under such amazing staff and alongside some of the most talented people I've met was a real privilege. I had always been unsure about going to university after leaving school, but I am so glad I chose to do my degree at the University of the Highlands and Islands. It's been a game changer for me.
"Winning the Liam Colgan songwriting award is such an honour to me. Not only to be recognised for my abilities but for it to be in the name of such a talented musician.
"Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet Liam, however, I reckon we would have gotten on really well and no doubt would have written a couple of great songs together."
Lisa Hope said it had come as a huge surprise when she was named this year's Liam Colgan music production award winner and she felt incredibly honoured to be chosen.
"It really means a lot to know that they believe in my skills as a musician and producer and have decided to further support my way as a songwriter and producer," she said.
"During my four years at Perth College UHI, I learned so much about myself as a songwriter and as a person as well. My tutors really helped me to get out of my comfort zone, try out new things and pushed me to become a better songwriter/producer. Especially in my final year, as I was writing my album, doing all the songwriting and production myself I could really see the development I had gone through in the last years."
The award was set up in 2019 by the family of Liam Colgan with the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Mr Colgan’s father Brian said: "We are looking forward to meeting this year's winners at the online awards evening being arranged by the university. Now in its third year, the student awards we set up with the University of the Highlands and Islands in 2019 have helped six young people realise their ambitions in the world of music and it continues to create positive experiences in memory of Liam."
Alison Wilson, head of development at the University of the Highlands and Islands, added: "I am extremely grateful to our donors, the Liam Colgan Music Fund, for the continued support to the university and the opportunities they provide for our music students. We all take pride in seeing the winners of these awards being recognised, in memory of Liam."
This year the university launched two new scholarships and prizes to support and inspire creativity and support emerging talent. The Peter May Fiction Prize winner and the recipients of the John Preston Music Awards will be announced later this year.
