Carolyn Holt wins The Trench Award 2015

On last Sunday night an appreciative audience attended the awards concert at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre where they were treated to a wonderfully diverse and interesting programme of classical music and song.   Six finalists for The Trench Award 2015 were selected from many submissions by students with a midland connection, now attending third level conservatories and colleges of music in Ireland. 

Carolyn Holt (Co Kildare) won the overall bursary valued at €2,500.  Carolyn is currently a fourth year student on the BA Music Performance at the RIAM. She has won a scholarship to study for an MA in Vocal Performance at the RAM in London, in September 2015.  She has performed a number of solo operatic roles with the RIAM. As a chorus member she has performed with Opera Theatre Company in Bizet's Carmen, and with Wide Open Opera in John Adams Nixon in China. Carolyn toured Germany with the ‘Schleswig–Holstein Chorakademie’ in 2013 and the ‘Lubeck Chorakademie’ in 2014.  She will perform as a soloist with the Dun Laoghaire Choral Society as part of their Complete Mozart Masses Project this May. 

Gavin Brennan (Co Offaly) achieved the second award of €1,000.  Gavin is currently studying for a Masters of Music Performance at the RIAM.  He was nominated for the Irish Young Musician of the Year in 2012 and 2013.   In 2013 Gavin toured internationally with the European Youth Wind Orchestra.  He received the Rising Stars Award, from the Galway Music Residency and RTE ConTempo String Quartet, 2013-2015.  Gavin regularly performs with the RTE ConTempo String Quartet.

The evening also featured performances from soprano Erin Dollard (Co Laois), violinist  Richard Thomas (Co Kildare), soprano Rachel Goode (East Galway), tenor Philip Keegan (Co Offaly) all displaying a high level of accomplishment in their chosen repertoire.  

The selection panel of Fergus Sheil (Wide Open Opera and Opera Theatre Company), John Molloy (International Bass Baritone) and Enda O’Connor (MA, G.D.P.E.) had a very difficult decision to make when selecting the overall winner.  They were greatly impressed by the musicality and technique shown by each performer all of whom are names to watch for the future.    Under a new Musical Futures initiative, the young baritone, Dylan Rooney from Nenagh performed two arias demonstrating him as a worthy recipient of scholarship support.   

A highlight of the evening was the recital on the Irish Harp from special guest Tríona Marshall, in advance of launching her new album this summer. 

A special thank you is extended to The Trench Trust and Salters Sterling for supporting and expanding this annual project;  thank you also to Birr Lions Club; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD; Maureen de Forge; Sheila & Arnold Fanning; for funding support. 

Bursary Award... The Future

Coordinator of the event, Maureen de Forge said “We are looking to the future at supporting this event to become nationally recognised in the years ahead. To expand to a weekend Festival of classical music including recitals, master classes, short opera works, choral workshops etc. would be the eventual aspiration”.

Philanthropic donations are encouraged from the community of Birr and beyond, to support talented musicians and singers from the Midlands as they pursue their musical training and embark on professional careers.  Please contact Maureen de Forge or Emma Nee Haslam if you would like to be part of this exciting programme.