Classical music awards for secondary schools closes next Friday

Phil Coulter has launched the search for teen talent to compete for the €5,000 top prize at the Top Security Frank Maher Classical Music Awards for 2019, Ireland’s largest classical music competition for secondary schools.  The closing date for entries is Friday 13th September and the world-renowned musician and songwriter will be master of ceremonies for the competition evening in October.  

Phil Coulter said: “I started out studying classical music at university and it proved a great foundation for my subsequent career. I’ve always been keen to support and encourage young musicians, so I was delighted to have been asked by Top Security to become involved in the Frank Maher Classical Music Awards. It’s attracted wonderful young talent over the years, and I can’t wait to meet this year’s entrants.”
The Top Security Frank Maher Classical Music Awards were created in 2001 by Emmet O’Rafferty, chairman of the Top Security Group, to showcase outstanding young talent in classical music. Past winners have received national and international recognition for their achievements and used their prize money as a springboard towards a professional career by funding their studies at some of the world’s most renowned music colleges and institutions, including the Juilliard School, Barenboim-Said Akademie, Royal College of Music, Conservatoire Nationale Superieur de Musique et de Danse, Kronberg Academy and the Meadows School of the Arts to name a few. 
Emmet O’Rafferty, chairman of the Top Security Group, said, “We are extremely pleased to have an artist of Phil Coulter’s stature on board this year.  I have no doubt that Phil will be as delighted as we have been with the gifted musical talent the Awards have attracted over the years. I created the competition to honour the memory of my late teacher, Fr Frank Maher, a pioneer in the nurturing of musical talent in secondary schools and I am proud to continue his legacy.”

The Awards are open to sixth year post-primary 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. The finalists will each receive a €300 bursary. 

The closing date for this year’s entries is Friday 13th September 2019.  A maximum of seven finalists will be selected by an independent board of adjudicators to attend the competition night on Friday 4th October 2019 at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin to perform in front of an invited audience. 

Details and entry forms at www.frankmaherclassicalmusicawards.com