IT’S NOT every day you meet a bassoonist from Ballymahon. Or indeed a saxophonist from Artane. But these musicians, and almost 4,000 more, are gathering in the RDS Dublin this week and next for the 113th Feis Ceoil.
Cello, bassoon and saxophone music wafted from the RDS’s Dodder Rooms yesterday as musicians gathered to practise before the competitions got under way.
Ronan Whittern wasn’t bothered about other competitors as he was the only one in the senior bassoon section. “But that doesn’t mean that you will win,” the 14-year-old from Ballymahon, Co Longford, explained. He still had to get a certain score to claim the gold medal.
His father, Richard, recalled how the bassoon was bigger than Ronan when he started playing it a few years ago, through his involvement with the Mullingar Town Band. Apparently he is the only bassoonist in Co Longford. “But there is one in Glasson in Westmeath,” Richard offered helpfully. The bassoon isn’t the only string to Ronan’s bow, so to speak. He was singing in the schools choir section on Tuesday – his choir won – and he will also compete in organ and piano competitions in the coming days.
Yes indeed, musicians are a different breed of people, as demonstrated by Artane saxophonist Patrick Hughes. He was only six when he declared that he wanted to play the tenor saxophone. He was advised to stick to the clarinet for a few more years. “I still dabble in the clarinet though,” he said, as though it was a dubious activity. When he finishes his four-year music degree, he is planning a further two-year study. “It’s comparable to medicine, in terms of the length of time it takes, but sadly there’s not the same financial reward,” he noted. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s definitely my vocation, my life endeavour. And it keeps me off the streets.”
Over in the concert hall, the stakes were high. Ten soloists were competing for the €10,000 IAWS bursary, the winner of which will be announced tomorrow.
Aoife O’Sullivan (25) was nervously sitting in her ball gown waiting to sing her five pieces in three languages. Would she not like to watch the others singing? “Oh no, I couldn’t,” she said, horrified.
“Not until afterwards.” The competitors also had to face an interview panel last night, to discuss what they would do with the bursary. “The €10,000 would be great,” she said, with considerable understatement. “What would I spend it on? My studies and more auditions.” So no fancy shoes, then? “Well, you need to buy dresses for the competitions and you might need some shoes, of course,” she conceded. “But you wouldn’t spend it all on shoes.” Aoife and her fellow competitors were in good company, explained Feis Ceoil chief executive Laura Gilsenan. Previous Feis Ceoil competitors include Margaret Burke Sheridan, John McCormack, John O’Conor and more recently Cora Venus Lunny.
The total prize fund this year is €60,000, a far cry from the late 1800s when you were lucky to get a medal. Although those medals had become valuable, Ms Gilsenan said. The bronze medal won by James Joyce for his tenor solo in 1904 was bought by dancer Michael Flatley for a reported €20,000.
Today the much-maligned recorder will take centre stage at the Dodder Rooms while the piano competitions continue at nearby St Mary’s Church hall.
Audio slideshow at irishtimes.com
Feis Ceoil results
PianoMrs MT Heneghan Memorial Cup winner: Sam Law, Ballymena, Co Antrim.
Choral Sacred MusicPost-Primary Schools Choirs winner: Schola Cantorum Choir, St Finian's College, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
School ChoirsUnison winner: Sacred Heart School, Tullamore, Co Offaly. Cóir Iarbhunscoile – Trí Pháirt Nó Ceithre Pháirt winner: Loreto Balbriggan Senior Choir, Balbriggan, Co Dublin. Cóir Aon Ghutha winner: St Brigid's National School,The Coombe.
Orchestra AwardsSiemens €1,000 Orchestra Award winner: St Canice's NS, Kilkenny. Orchestra (A) Schools Orchestra winner: Belvedere College, Dublin. Orchestra (B) winner\; Sacred Heart School Tullamore, Co Offaly. Orchestra (C) Junior Orchestra winner: St Canice's NS Orchestra A, Kilkenny.
String Awards:Arthur Catterall Cup winner: Patrick Rafter, Threecastles Co, Kilkenny. Junior Violin (E) winner: Isabel Doyle, Rathgar, Dublin. Junior Viola (B) winner: Oisin Friel, Templeogue, Dublin.
Woodwind AwardsJunior Flute (A) winner: Norah-Marie McGrath, Terenure, Dublin. Junior Flute (B) winner: Niamh Kenny, Castleknock, Dublin. Junior Flute (C) winner: Jana McCarthy-Kent, Tramore, Co Waterford. Junior Oboe winner: Owen Feely, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Junior Saxophone winner: Padraig Dooney , Clontarf, Dublin. Junior Clarinet (A) winner: Kate Duffy, Knocklyon, Dublin. Junior Clarinet (B) winner: Cathal Killeen, Kilbride, Co Wicklow. Senior Clarinet winner: Patrick King, Rathgar Dublin.
Vocal AwardsJunior Vocal Duet (A) winner: Ruth Murphy and Nicholas Sheridan, Summerhill, Wexford. Vincent O'Brien Memorial Cup winner: Laura Murphy, Wexford.
Mezzo Soprano Solo winner: Laura Murphy, Wexford. Tenor Solo winner: Eoin Hynes, Tuam Co Galway. Bass Solo winner: Kieran Hourigan, Dromkeen, Co Limerick.
