A NORTH county Dublin pianist has been awarded a
?¬10,000 RDS Music Bursary.
Máire Carroll, from Malahide, is currently undertaking her BA in Piano Performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and was one of six young musicians in contention for this award.
She is also one of the Irish finalists in the Dublin International Piano Competition, the finals of which will take place this month.
This year the RDS celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Music Bursary. It is one of the largest single bursaries on offer to a young musician in Ireland and is open to both vocalists and instrumentalists.
It is intended to assist a young professional musician develop their career through further study at home or abroad; or for the purchase of a suitable musical instrument or sheet music. Awarded on an annual basis since 2003, the RDS Music Bursary is open to winners of selected senior competitions in the ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil.
With the help of the Bursary, Máire will accept a place at the Royal Academy of Music, London, to study with Christopher Elton and complete her undergraduate degree.
The Bursary will go towards assisting with tuition and accommodation costs whilst in London, her ambition to become an international concert pianist, the RDS Bursary helping.
Máire’s next challenge will be her participation in the Dublin International Piano Competition where she is up against other Irish finalists Nadene Fiorentini (also a RDS Music Bursary finalist) and Benjamin Shaffrey.