Schools' classical music awards launched

Meath’s musical teens are tuning up for a potential €5,000 boost to their career as the Fr Frank Maher Classical Music Awards, sponsored by Top Security is seeking entries for 2016. It is Ireland’s largest classical music competition for secondary schools. The internationally renowned RTÉ Contempo Quartet (pictured) were at the launch in the NCH where it was announced that the winner’s prize has been increased from €3,000 to €5,000 for 2016.

Emmet O’Rafferty, chairman of Top Security, established the Awards in 2001 in memory of the late priest who was a music teacher at his old school. Emmet said, It’s hard to believe now but Fr Frank Maher was something of a pioneer in establishing music as a subject in a boys’ school at a time when music was regarded essentially as a girls’ subject. That attitude has completely changed, due largely to the work of music educationalists like Fr Frank Maher.”

The Awards were created by Top Security to showcase outstanding young musical talent in Ireland and are open to sixth year post-primary students of strings, 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. The finalists will each receive a €250 bursary.

Past winners have used their winnings to fund attendance at many of the world’s most prominent music colleges, which include Shenandoah University, Virginia, USA, Conservatoire Nationale Superieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris, Kronberg Academy in Germany, the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, Texas, and the Royal Academy of Music in London to name a few.

Welcoming the launch of the 2016 Awards, the RTÉ Contempo Quartet commented: 'We are delighted to be part of this year's Fr Frank Maher awards. We met when as very young students studying in Bucharest and understand what wonderful things can happen in life when you make music together - and we must know best because we married each other! Best of luck to the winners of this marvellous prize, we wish you a lifetime of playing and enjoying your music.'

The closing date for entries is Thursday 13th October 2016. Seven finalists will be selected by an independent board of adjudicators to attend the competition night in November at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin.

Full details, including rules and a copy of the application form for downloading, are on www.topsecurity.ie.