Young Musicians

We have a long standing relationship with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, with concerts devoted to groups from RIAM’s third level programmes (BMus, MMus, DipMus, Recital Artist Diploma) consisting of students training at the RIAM for careers as professional musicians. RIAM has over 30 chamber music groups studying on third level programmes, many of whom aspire for chamber music to be a viable career option. A special selection process will be linked to RIAM's chamber music exams. Following chamber music exams, outstanding groups will be selected for the Music for Wexford recital opportunities, offering a professional platform for pre-professional chamber musicians. Offering exceptional chamber music groups access to performances at professional festivals encourages aspiring chamber musicians to work together over a long-term period and develop lasting chamber music collaborations

“The Music for Wexford recital opportunities are invaluable platforms to showcase their chamber music work.”  Sarah Sew (Head of String and Chamber Music RIAM)

In 2022, the launch of our “Wexford Strings” project was a huge success, with 16 young musicians from Wexford and beyond, joined renowned chamber ensemble Musici Ireland for a weekend of music making. The aim of the project was to give young (12-19 year olds) a real taste of a professional musicians working life. Under the leadership of violinist Mia Cooper, the ensemble of 35 performed works such as Grieg’s Holberg Suite and Vaughan Williams “Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis”, to a wonderful and supportive audience. Our plan is to expand on the success of this event, with a large scale weekend such as this every 2nd year and a smaller chamber version, to also include wind/brass, in the intervening years.

To help support this development please visit our Support page.

Music for Wexford are proud to be actively developing opportunities for young Irish based musicians, providing performance opportunities, masterclasses and awards to encourage them in their studies.

Young Musicians Bursary Award

Applications are now being accepted for our Young Musicians Bursary Award.

Made annually in support of the development of talented young musicians from County Wexford, in memory of long time committee member Betty O’Brien.

Candidate Requirements:

Check what you will need to apply

Award(s) will be made on the basis of a competitive process. The total award fund is €500 plus a paid lunchtime concert performance as part of our Summer season. This will be awarded annually to a young musician/singer at the discretion of the judging panel.

The competition is open to young classical, jazz, Trad, folk and music theatre performers

• Candidates must be from or living in Co Wexford

• Candidates must be between the ages of 14-20 as of the closing date

• Candidates must be of a very high standard (at least grade 7 standard)

• Candidates must be confident in front of an audience both as a musician and ability to talk to and engage with the audience for a duration of a 60 minute performance *

Candidates are required to:

• Submit a completed application form.

• Provide a video recording of no more than 15 minutes solo or accompanied solo performance. The recording should be in mp4 format shared via a file sharing service to mfwartists@gmail.com with subject line “Young Musician Application”

• The recording must be unedited and of excellent audio quality.

• Submit the completed application form and recording by the stated deadline.

Based on the application and recording, a specialist panel of judges will select a winning candidate. In the event of several high quality applicants, a second round of live auditions may take place.

Closing date for 2024: 5pm on 31st March

Results will be announced by 1st May

The winners concert performance will be on 24th July at 1pm in St Iberius Church Wexford

*We are looking for a genuinely high standard of performer, who could perform for a significant length of time, however, the 60 minutes is the approximate running time of the concert, including talking etc. If the musician is performing with a Pianist or another instrument, there can be a discussion about a solo work by another performer as part of the performance. If there is a particularly young musician, who would not be able to manage such a long, programme, considerations will be made.