Barry Douglas names Aoife NiBhriain as the recipient of this year's
Alan Gillespie Ulster Bank Award.

Dublin born Aoife is a classical and a traditional violinist who came straight from the stage in her home city where she performed with Riverdance, to the leafy surroundings of the Clandeboye Estate where she spent the week in Masterclasses with Graf Mourja in preparation for the Young Musician's Showcase night at the Clandeboye Festival.

The Showcase gives the twelve students who have been selected from across Ireland, a unique opportunity to spend the week at the Clandeboye Estate- home to the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava – working with the Clandeboye Festival's founder Barry Douglas, and a host of international artists in preparation for their performances.

The twelve young musicians who took part in last night's concert (2 Sept), joined a long list of exceptionally talented classical musicians who have come through the ranks of the festival's Young Musician Programme. They include pianist Michael McHale and flautist Eimear McGeown. Apart from the intense tuition they receive to hone their craft, many of those who take part in the Young Musicians' Programme have also been given the opportunity to perform with Camerata Ireland. When Barry Douglas and the orchestra travelled to the USA in April to undertake a fourth US tour with the orchestra, he had six former Young Musicians performing as part of the comprehensive tour starting with Camerata Ireland's debut at Carnegie Hall.

Aoife studies with Prof Mariana Sirbu in the Hochschule fur Musik und Theater in Leipzig . She has won many awards in both classical and traditional music including the International Sean O Riada Fiddle Competition, numerous All Ireland Titles and many prizes in the Feis Ceoil. She is a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra for 2011/2012. In August 2011 she performed the world premiere of "the Longest Reel" for solo violin in the "Masters of Tradition" Festival in Bantry and has been invited to perform a solo recital in Rome

The award that Aoife received will go towards her studies.

Camerata Ireland is most grateful for the support given through this award.

Listen again to Barry Douglas with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms (51) premiering Kevin Volans' piano concerto No.3, specially commissioned for him. Just follow the link, available for three more days.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007v097/episodes/player

Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland www.youtube.com/titanicstories

Barry Douglas is an Irish name instantly recognised in the concert halls of the world. In 1986, he became one of only two non-Russians - the other being Van Cliburn - to have won outright the Tchaikovsky Gold Medal in Moscow. Since then he has performed and recorded with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors in most of the world’s great concert venues. He continues for most of the year to travel from his home in Paris to play in the concert halls of the world.

Camerata Ireland

Barry Douglas founded Camerata Ireland in 1999 as an orchestra of Irish musicians determined to match the best in the world. Through its tours in USA, South America, China and most of Europe it has quickly developed a reputation for excellence and for creating a particularly distinctive Irish string sound. In 2004, President McAleese and Queen Elizabeth II became joint Patrons of Camerata Ireland, testament to Camerata Ireland’s all Ireland commitment and to its determination to create opportunity for the very best young Irish musicians.

You can follow Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland on Facebook and Twitter    

Camerata Ireland has three sources of uniqueness:

1. Our Joint Patrons

2. Barry Douglas

3. Our commitment to the best of young Irish musical talent – north and south.
We provide opportunities for them to learn … to tour … to play with the best … and perhaps to go solo.

Camerata Ireland are most grateful for the support of Global Sponsor
Randox Laboratories