Pianist Aidan Keane (17) a sixth-year student at Boyne Community School
, was a finalist at the 2024 Top Security Frank Maher Classical Music Awards. It is Ireland’s largest such competition for secondary schools and this year’s competition took place in Dublin last weekend.
Lyric FM presenter Marty Whelan was master of ceremonies for an evening of outstanding teen musical talent at which Aidan performed two pieces, ‘Prelude from English Suite No.2, BWV 807’ by Johann Sebastian Bach and ‘Hungarian Rhapsody No.4 in EB Major, S.244/4’ by Franz Liszt.
Aidan was presented with a €300 bursary as were the other finalists, Oscar Casey (18), Douglas Community School, Douglas, Cork (Cello); Meadhbh Ní Chathasaigh (18), Gaelcoláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co. Cork (Violin); Amhlaoibh Ó Siocháin Ó Beoláin (18), Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Glanmire, Co. Cork (Piano); Chloe O’Connor (18), Muckross Park College, Donnybrook, Dublin (Violin)
The winner of the €5,000 top prize was pianist Ai Lin Sun (17) a sixth-year student at the Institute of Education in Dublin.
The Awards were created in 2001 by Top Security chairman Emmet O’Rafferty to honour the memory of his late teacher, Fr Frank Maher, who taught music at Castleknock College in Dublin.
Emmet said “On behalf of Top Security, congratulations to this year’s winner, Ai Lin Sun, Aidan and all our equally talented finalists for their excellent performances on the night. Fr. Frank Maher’s passion for classical music inspired many students and it’s a privilege to support these talented young musicians as they embark on their professional journeys. This competition not only recognises their hard work and dedication but also helps them pursue opportunities that can shape their musical futures. We wish them all the very best wherever their talent takes them.”
The Awards’ aim is to showcase exceptional young musical talent in Irish schools and are open to sixth year post-primary students of strings, woodwind, brass and piano. The €5,000 top prize must be used 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 judging panel was Dr Gerard Gillen, emeritus professor of music at NUI Maynooth, international classical pianist Veronica McSwiney and international violist Wolfgang Klos, professor of viola at the University of Music and the Performing Arts, Vienna. He was one of the adjudicators at the 25th Osaka International Music Competition earlier in October.
