Silver award

ARTISTS and designers working in silver were invited to submit proposals for a major new piece of contemporary silverwork to be displayed in the National Museum of Scotland.

The commission came from National Museums Scotland and The Glenmorangie Company, and the judging panel has now awarded the Glenmorangie Commission to Simone ten Hompel.

German-born Simone ten Hompel is a silversmith of international repute, and has been working with metal for over 40 years. Based in the UK, she is known for her metalwork being regarded as one of the most inventive silversmiths of her generation and one of Britain’s most critically acclaimed craftspeople.

Over the next year she will work with archaeologists from National Museums Scotland, researching the early medieval collections that will result in a contemporary work of art in silver, inspired by the collection and themes that are being researched within the Creating Scotland project supported by Glenmorangie. In 2020 the finished silverwork will go on public display, as part of the permanent collection, within the National Museum of Scotland.

“I am thrilled to have been awarded this innovative commission”, ten Hompel says. National Museums Scotland holds the definitive collection of early Scottish silver and I look forward to exploring the galleries, working with their curators, and enjoying unique access to these beautiful objects to inform and inspire my work.”

Rising star

TAMZENE, a young writer and multi-instrumentalist from Cromarty, who caused a stir last year with her debut single, Lullaby, releases another single, Last Song, on December 14.

Tamzene began learning the violin when she was just eight, followed by the guitar,six years later, when she began writing her own material. She was busking on the streets of Inverness by bookers from the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival. Her debut year saw her play a number of British festivals, to mention a series of dates across mainland Europe and the US. In America, she performed at the industry conference, MUSEXPO, in Los Angeles.

Her dates this year have included Live at Leeds, TRNSMT, Sunday Sessions Scotland, Belladrum and the Hampton Court Palace Festival.

She recently supported Morgan James, the American singer and actress, on her UK tour. Another single, Count Your Days, was chosen as track of the week on BBC Radio Scotland’s Janice Forsyth Show.

Rock of ages

TWO well-known Scottish musicians, whose stories have both been told by the same author, will take part in a spoken-word show at the Glasgow venue, T he Solid Rock Cafe, in Hope Street, on Saturday and Sunday.

Chris Glen, bass player with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and other groups, will share the stage with David Lennox, singer with the sixties beat group, The Beatstalkers.

Both musicians were the subject of books by author Martin Kielty - Chris Glen: The Bass Business; and The Beatstalkers, Scotland’s Number One Beat Group.

Hosted by Kielty, they will compare notes on their respective careers, and share experiences and anecdotes not covered by the books. The audience will be asked to guess which of the two caused the greater disturbance on an international flight. The event takes place from midday until 2.30pm on both days.

On the road again

HALL and Oates - Daryl Hall and John Oates, said to be the bestselling duo in music history - are to play their first UK headline tour in five years. Tickets go on sale at 10am tomorrow for their SSE Hydro concert on May 1.