Ireland’s National Concert Hall announces recipients of Young Musician Award for String Players

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The National Concert Hall (NCH) has announced the winners of its bursaries for 2023, rewarding young musicians for outstanding musical and compositional talents.

This year, the Young Musician Award for String Players was awarded to two players, violinist Sarah Brazil (15) and cellist Adam Joyce (16). Brazil wins €6,000, while Joyce receives €4,000.

The musicians received the award based on a musical performance, which was adjudicated by violinist of the National Symphony Orchestra Elaine Clarke and general manager of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra Joe Csibi. Brazil’s winning performance included Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor and Bach’s Partita No. 3 in E Major, while Joyce’s performance featured Cassadó’s Requiebros and Glazunov’s Chant du Ménestrel.

Brazil began studying violin at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) at the age of six. In 2016, at the age of eight, she made her National Concert Hall debut as part of the Feis Ceoil Young Platform Series Concerts. In 2022, she was invited to perform at the Feis Ceoil Gala Concert in the RDS and at the Feis Ceoil 125th Anniversary Concert at Farmleigh House. Brazil has been on the RIAM Young Artist Programme since 2016 and has led the RIAM Symphony Orchestra since 2021.

Joyce currently studies with Christopher Marwood at the RIAM where he is on the RIAM Young Artists Programme. He began playing the cello at the age of six. He has won numerous Feis Ceoils and other competitions across Ireland. In August Joyce will fly to Amsterdam for three weeks to play with Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Young 2023.

The NCH has announced the recipients of two other bursaries. Lyric soprano Clare Quinn received the Bernadette Greevy Bursary of €5,000 and a performance at the Kevin Barry Recital Room, while composer Robin Haigh won the Jerome Hynes Young Composer Award, comprising €2,500 and a new commission.

Robert Read, CEO of the National Concert Hall said:  ’As a leading voice for music in Ireland, the NCH is delighted to support and champion the development and appreciation of music particularly among our young people.

’With these bursaries we are very proud to provide opportunities for musicians and composers and to support them in their early careers. In making these awards I am reminded of the abundant talent that exists within this island’s creative community, as evidenced by the consistently high quality of entries to these awards.

’Congratulations to all those who entered and to this year’s winners, we wish them every success in the future.’

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