THE IRISH FREEMASONS YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2023 COMPETITION

Now the HIGHEST PRIZE Music Competition in Ireland with Cash Prizes Totalling In Excess of €21,000 plus Solo Engagement Performances for the Winner.

We are delighted to announce that the Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year competition takes place this October 2023. Recognised internationally, the prestigious Irish Freemasons YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR Competition is one of the most important dates in the calendars of young musicians who will be the future of classical music in Ireland and around the globe.

This year’s Competition will take place before an International Jury, chaired by Seamus Crimmins, as follows:

· The Semi-Finals – Thurs. 12th October 2023 @ Freemasons’ Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 @ 1.00pm and 7.00pm

· The Finals – Saturday, 14th October 2023 @ Freemasons’ Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 @ 7.00pm

The Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year Competition is now the HIGHEST PRIZE Music Competition in Ireland. The Prizes, which have increased significantly, awarded by The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland are:

· 1st Prize: €8,000

· 2nd Prize: €5,000

· 3rd Prize: €3,000

· 4th Prize: €2,000

There are four extra prizes in addition:

· ‘The John Vallery Memorial Prize’ (sponsored by Mary Beattie in memory of her husband, the viola player, John Vallery). This prize is €1,000 and will be awarded to the competitor (in either the semi-finals or the final) who, in the opinion of the Jury has given the best performance by a String player in the 2023 competition.

· ‘The Conrad O’Sullivan Memorial Prize (sponsored by Mrs. Geraldine O’Sullivan in memory of her son, Conrad). This prize is also €1,000 and will be awarded to the competitor (in either the semi-finals or the final) who, in the opinion of the Jury has given the best performance by a Wind or Brass player in the 2023 competition.

· The Wil Keune Memorial Prize €1,000 for a performance by a Semi Finalist not awarded a place in the Final but whom the Jury feel shows real potential and promise. This Prize will be posthumously presented on behalf of Jane Carty.

· A special prize for this year’s winner of a Recital in the Redutowe Rooms of the Teatr Wielki - National Opera in Warsaw will be presented by Jury Member Beata Klatka, Polish National Opera

The following will also be offered to the Winner of The Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year 2023 Competition:

· A solo engagement during 2024 with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra

· Submission of the recording (at RTE LYRIC FM’s discretion) of the Winner’s performance to the European Broadcasting Union New Talent Competition, as RTE Lyric FM’s entry for 2024.

· A Recital engagement at the National Concert Hall during 2024

· An engagement at the ‘Music in Monkstown Festival’ in 2024

The prestige of winning this competition opens many doors for these young musicians from high profile engagements to performing concerts, teaching internationally and holding positions with professional orchestras around the globe. This competition is recognised internationally.

It is important to The Irish Freemasons, as part of their community outreach, to recognise the longstanding association that Freemasonry has had with music. Music has always played an important part of masonic life. Many performers and composers have been members of the craft, including Haydn and even John Walter Bratton (who wrote the music to The Teddy Bear’s Picnic!) Many people will know Mozart was a Freemason. Mozart wrote many pieces of music for use in Masonic Lodges.

Members of the International Jury for the 2023 competition are: Seamus Crimmins (Chairman), Holger Bleck (Germany), Beata Klatka (Poland), Maighread McCrann (Ireland), Veronica McSwiney (Ireland) and Colman Pearce (Ireland).

Thirteen competitors will perform at the Semi Finals and four of these will then be chosen by the Jury to go on to the Final. The Semi Finals on 12th October and the Final on Saturday, 14th October 2023 are open to the public. Tickets are on sale at Freemasons Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Final sells out very quickly.

The patrons of the competition are: Dearbhla Collins, Eamonn Lawlor, John Keeley and John Rowden. Full Biographies of the Patrons are available on the competition website which is www.freemasonmusic.ie

The semi-finalists at The Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year 2023 Competition are selected by the Music Colleges themselves from the cream of their students. Competitors must be full time students for the college year 2022 – 2023, pursuing a Degree in Music Performance at Undergraduate, Post Graduate or Doctoral Level, or a Post Graduate Diploma in Music Performance at the following Music Institutions in Ireland who offer Performance Degrees:

· The Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin

· The Technological University, Dublin

· The DIT Conservatory of Music, Dundalk

· The CIT Cork School of Music, Cork

· The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick (MA in Classical String Performance).

· Queen’s University Belfast

Music has always played an important part of masonic life. Here is an interesting list of Masonic Musicians:

Classical: Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Josef Haydn, Emile Schikenader (Librettist of The Magic Flute), Jan Sibelius, Thomas Arne, Johnann Christian Bach (Son of J S Bach), Michael Balfe, Luigi Cherubini, Charles Francis Gounod, Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle (‘The Marseillaise’), Sigmund Romberg, Sir Arthur Sullivan, Samuel Wesley.

Popular: John Philip Sousa, Louis Armstrong, William ‘Count’ Basie, Irving Berlin, George M Cohan, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Al Jolson, Paul Whiteman

And finally, John Walter Bratton (who wrote the music to The Teddy Bear’s Picnic!)