News
Harry’s game wins the day as Kenmare musician’s talent earns him top Rotary prize
A
AN INCREDIBLY talented young Kenmare violinist struck a chord with classical music fans in Killarney at the weekend as Harry O’Connor was crowned Killarney Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year.
The 17th annual competition unfolded over two days in the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service centre at Fairhill on Friday and Saturday and an extraordinarily entertaining concert in the INEC Acoustic Club proved a fitting finale.
The MC on the night was Ailish Walsh and the adjudicators were Pat O’Keeffe and Mary Hegarty. “Patrons and guests were treated to an amazing display of talent, with voice, violin, cello and harp fighting it out in a classical music version of Battle of The Bands,” said Killarney Rotary president Angela O’Connor.
Of course, there had to be a winner and Harry O'Connor’s virtuoso performance of Mozart’s Violin Sonata No 21 held the judges and audience spellbound. Laura Hynes, a fourth-year student at Gaelcholáiste Chiarrai, won second prize, with harpist Emily Sullivan, Lauragh, being presented with the award for third place.
The runners-up were Katarina Roberts from Castlegregory on the cello, Eva Buckley from Muckross, Killarney, on the piano and Alan McLoughlin, voice, from Tralee.
The winner of the James Gleeson Memorial Award, which was presented on the night by Killarney Rotarian Barry Murphy, on behalf of Grace and Eoin Gleeson, was Orlaith O'Sullivan, daughter of Mary and Diarmuid O'Sullivan from Killorglin. Last year’s winner, Edel Crowley, also gave a performance on the night.
Killarney Rotary president Angela welcomed Killarney Advertiser as media partner and sponsor again this year. "If we in Killarney Rotary Club through our Young Musician competition foster in our young competitors a love of music then as far as we are concerned the competition will have been a success. I would like to thank our members Barry Murphy and Sean Treacy for their foresight in setting up this competition 17 years ago."
Above: At the Killarney Rotary Club Young Musician of the year final at The Inec Acoustic Club, Killarney, on Saturday night were Eva Buckley, Harry O'Connor (overall winner), Katarina Roberts, Laura Hynes, Alan McLoughlin and Emily Sullivan with Barry Murphy, Sean Treacy, MC, and Angela O'Connor, Killarney Rotary Club President. PICTURE: EAMONN KEOGH