THERE’S good news for Kilkenny’s classical teens as the Top Security Frank Maher Classical Music Awards for sixth years goes ahead with a €5,000 prize for the winner.
Violinist Mia Cooper, leader of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra (pictured) was at the photo call to launch the search for entries.
The county has had one finalist, cellist Robert Murphy in 2016, since the competition went nationwide in 2012, but no winners to date.
The awards were created in 2001 by Emmet O’Rafferty, chairman of the Top Security Group to honour the memory of his late teacher, Fr Frank Maher, a pioneer in the nurturing of musical talent in secondary schools.
Past winners have received national and international recognition for their achievements and used their prize money as a springboard to a professional career by funding their studies at some of the world’s most renowned music colleges and institutions.
The awards are open to sixth year secondary school students of string, woodwind, brass and piano.
The €5,000 top prize will be used by the winner to attend a recognised place of tuition, a course of study in Ireland or abroad or on a purchase necessary for the development of their talent. Finalists each receive a €300 bursary. Closing date for this year’s entries is September 11.
Competition night is October 2 at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin.
