Media Release 5 May 2015

National Concert Hall announces winners of the Young Musician Award for Strings 2015

The National Concert Hall has just announced the two winners of the Young Musicians Award which supports the development of talented young string musicians in Ireland. Violinist Kevin Jansson (14, Cork), and cellist Killian White (15, Dublin) will share the €10,000 bursary which may be used toward tuition, instrument upgrade, travel or other costs faced by student musicians as they develop their potential.

Judges Chi-chi Nwanoku, MBE (double bass) and Darragh Morgan (violin) made glowing comments about both players, noting that Kevin’s violin recital ‘demonstrated a wonderfully natural feel and understanding’ while Killian’s cello performance showed ‘extremely accomplished playing’.

Kevin is the youngest ever member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Not only is he an exceptional violin player, but in 2014 Kevin was one of 12 pianists worldwide to participate in the 2014 Lang Lang International Music Foundation Junior Camp in Barcelona. He will put his €6,000 bursary toward purchasing a new violin and attending masterclasses in Austria and Romania.

Killian is also the winner of the Terry O’Connor trophy for Junior Concerto at Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil and was invited to play in Farmleigh House at the Department of Justice & Equality Missing Person’s Day 2014. He will put his €4000 bursary towards the purchase of a new cello and to attending masterclasses.

‘Supporting the next generation of musical talent is vitally important,’ commented Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall, ‘we hope the awards will help these gifted young string players fulfil their potential and that they will perform with distinction on our stage in years to come’.

The National Concert Hall Young Musician Award for Strings is made biennially in support of the development of talented young musicians in Ireland. The award was instigated following a benefit concert in 2007 by Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Trondheim Soloists Chamber Orchestra, who generously donated their fees in support of the Education, Community and Outreach Programme of the National Concert Hall.

ENDS
For further information please contact: Ruth Moloney, Marketing Executive, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 417 0084 / 087 278 6382