College of Music Musical maestros showcase their talent
Anna Zhulyn taking part in Carlow College of Music's 12th Music Festival
TALENTED musicians aged five to 18 years showcased their wonderful abilities at Carlow College of Music’s annual Music Festival.
The Music Festival was deemed a great success with more than 120 performances over two days at Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc. Adjudicator Grainne Deery was very impressed with the standard and enjoyed all the mini-concerts, which saw performers from under-eights to over-18s in the senior categories using a wide range of instruments, including piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, saxophone, clarinet, French horn, tenor horn, voice and guitar. Performances were both solo and ensemble.
A special performance was also given by the college’s glockenspiel class for students aged five and six years of , under the guidance of their teacher Imelda Andrews. The wonderful piece was awarded second place in the junior ensemble competition.
There were two special awards at the festival. The Emerging Talent Award and the McCullough Cup went to Seán Cloney on French horn. Fourteen-year-old Seán has been learning at Carlow College of Music since the age of eight with his teacher Gavin Barr and plays in Carlow Youth Orchestra. Seán has also gained a place with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland in May and is a dedicated and talented young musician.
Carlow College of Music Student of the Year was jointly awarded to Darragh Roberts (piano) and Kris Tai (violin).
Darragh started lessons at the age of four and progressed all the way through to leaving cert. He has taken part in many concerts over the years, including solos and duets, and performed with the Carlow Youth Orchestra.
Kris Tai started lessons at the age of seven and is also now in leaving cert. He was leader of the Junior Orchestra, The Staves, and progressed to leader of Carlow Youth Orchestra (CYO). He has performed with CYO in the National Concert Hall numerous times. Kris is working on a composition for the orchestra as part of the 35-year celebrations of Carlow College of Music this year.
Director of Carlow College of Music Majella Swan would like to thank her great team of teachers, Philippa Jennings in the office, all their assistants and parents and Ruth Ní Chearbhalláin, principal of the Gaelscoil.
The college is now looking forward to its Festival Prize Winners’ Concert with special guests Carlow Youth Orchestra on Friday 4 April in St Mary’s Church, Carlow at 8pm in aid of Carlow National School, Green Road.
Tickets (including entry in the raffle) cost €15. Contact 086 4113989, or tickets available on the door.
