Trio of teenage Cork musicians honoured in national competition

Three talented teen musicians from three Cork secondary schools have been recognised following their performances at the 2024 Top Security/Frank Maher Classical Music Awards for secondary schools.

Cellist Oscar Casey (18) from Douglas Community School, violinist Meadhbh Ní Chathasaigh (18) from Gaelcoláiste Choilm in Ballincollig and pianist Amhlaoibh Ó Siocháin Ó Beoláin (18) from Coláiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire took part in the final held recently at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin.

Lyric FM presenter Marty Whelan was MC for an evening of teen talent, where the top prize of €5,000 was won by pianist Ai Lin Sun from the Institute of Education in Dublin.

Oscar, Maedhbh and Amhlaoibh from Cork, along with the other finalists, each received a €300 bursary.

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.

“On behalf of Top Security, congratulations to our winner Ai Lin Sun and our equally talented finalists Oscar, Meadhbh, Amhlaoibh, Aidan and Chloe for their excellent performances on the night,” Mr O’Rafferty said.

“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 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.

2023 winner pianist Joe O’Grady is now studying music as part of his Bachelor degree at Harvard University in Massachusetts and other winners have used the prize to further their studies at other prestigious institutions such as the Juilliard School in New York, Hochschule für Musik und Theater (HfMT) in Hamburg and the Royal College of Music in the UK.