RDS Rising Stars Gala Concert 8 May

This week, The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) will be continuing their support of young musicians at the Spring Rising Stars Gala Concert. I attended and sincerely enjoyed the Autumn program, and am looking forward to another great production from the RDS Foundation Arts Programme.

I was so excited about the upcoming show that I wrote an article to promote it.

This week, The Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge will be filled with the beautiful music of a diverse programme of talented performers and timeless composers. It will be an evening to remember. Best of all, the concert is free and open to the public.

On Thursday 8 May, The Royal Dublin Society will host the Spring 2014 Rising Stars Gala Concert in the RDS Concert Hall. This gala concert will be the latest in a series of twice-yearly free concerts supporting the development of student musicians and offering the public a free evening of outstanding classical music. Four promising young musicians and a special guest artist will perform works by Chopin, Ravel, Mozart, Brahms, and many others.

The Royal Dublin Society Foundation Arts Programme continues its excellence in supporting developing musicians with this Spring gala concert event.

Dara O’Leary, RDS Arts Programme Executive, says of the series, “The RDS Rising Stars Programme provides an audience and a venue for talented third-level music students to help them gain performance experience. These free concerts in the RDS Concert Hall are part of the RDS Foundation Arts Programme which aims to provide a platform that supports the transition from student to emerging artist; encouraging the pursuit of a career in visual arts, crafts, or music.”

At each Rising Stars Gala Concert, these hard-working and promising young music students are able to benefit from a performance in a professional-level concert hall to a large audience, but the RDS Foundation doesn't stop there.

The RDS Foundation also sponsors an annual €10,000 Music Bursary to one outstanding student musician. This is one of the largest single bursaries available to young musicians in Europe. The award aims to assist a young professional musician to develop his or her career through further study at home or abroad or to purchase a professional-level musical instrument. The Bursary has been awarded each year since 2003. This year, in addition to the monetary prize, the winner will be offered a solo engagement with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra during the 2014/2015 season. In another new extension to the 2014 Bursary, London-based voluntary arts society Irish Heritage will offer the winner a solo recital in London during the 2014/2015 season. All travel and accommodation costs will be paid for by Irish Heritage.

Past winners have gone on to perform professionally as soloists and in opera companies, top-tier orchestras, and other prestigious ensembles.

Students performing on the programme are Adam McDonagh (Piano), DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Miriam Kaczor (Flute), Royal Irish Academy of Music, accompanied by Dearbhla Brosnan (Piano), Seán Boylan (Baritone), Royal Irish Academy of Music, accompanied by Dearbhla Collins (Piano), and Carol Arnopp (Piano) & the Chiral Quartet (String Quartet), CIT Cork School of Music.

A special guest performance will be given by Patrick Hughes (Saxophone) Winner of the 2009 RDS Music Bursary, accompanied by Miles Lallement (Piano).

This enchanting evening concert is an event not to be missed, for the entertainment and for the support of a worthwhile arts initiative.

The RDS Rising Stars Spring Gala Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday 8 May in the RDS Concert Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission to the Gala Concert is free but booking is essential online or by phone. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.rds.ie/arts.

If you are in Dublin on 8 May 2014, do check out the RDS Rising Stars Concert. Admission is free, but booking is required. For more information, see the Rising Stars Website.