Michael McHale - Camerata Ireland/ Accenture Young Musician of the Year 2004 and Clandeboye winner 2004

Having finished my formal studies at the Royal Academy of Music last year, I have been spending more and more time giving concerts this year, both as a soloist and chamber musician. Highlights include making my solo recital debut in Washington DC as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland festival, performing Beethoven's 'Emperor' Concerto with the Ulster Orchestra (for BBC Radio) and on tour with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, and a three-concert series of American and French piano trios in the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin with my regular trio, Ensemble Avalon (for RTE Lyric fm).

I have also been fortunate to enjoy continued contact with and support from Camerata Ireland and Barry Douglas since winning the Clandeboye and Accenture Musician of the Year awards back in 2004. It was an unforgettable experience performing the Mozart Double Concerto with Barry and the orchestra, and a great boost to my solo career - as was Barry's invitation to perform with the Hallé Orchestra in the Manchester 'Piano 2006' festival. I have also greatly enjoyed returning to Clandeboye to give chamber music concerts with some of the other young musicians, while meeting the various international guest artists who take part in the festival each year - and performing with the orchestra again this August, in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.5, was a real highlight. The Camerata Ireland / Accenture bursary also provided invaluable assistance to my career, allowing me to dedicate more time to my solo practice and giving me the means to afford private lessons with a range of piano professors and to enter for more competitions and prizes.

I have some interesting challenges next year - two days of BBC studio recordings; a debut recital in Dublin's National Concert Hall; a concert tour and CD recording with Ensemble Avalon; two concerts of music by Arvo Pärt with the composer in attendance; a solo recital in Leighton House, London.  I will also premiere a new work written for me by Belfast composer Philip Hammond in the Clandeboye 2008 festival; concerts in Berlin and Dresden performing Rachmaninov's Paganini Rhapsody with Takuo Yuasa and the Ulster Youth Orchestra and a concerto debut with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra. My trio Ensemble Avalon will also be hosting our own chamber music mini-festival in Wexford in late November with guest artists from London and USA.

My ambition is to have a full and varied career as a pianist combining chamber music with solo work and I hope that by continuing to work hard and developing as a musician that I will have a good chance of achieving this - and the ongoing support of Camerata Ireland will undoubtedly provide me with an excellent platform to do so.