The annual Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year competition takes place in the Freemasons' Hall on Dublin’s Molesworth Street this October 10-12.
Supported by RTÉ Lyric FM, it’s now the most covetable music competition in Ireland with cash prizes totalling in excess of €20,000.
In addition, there are significant solo engagement performances in both Ireland and Internationally for the winner who will pick up a cheque for €8,000.
Last year’s winner was Rowel Elesio Friers, from Holywood in county Down. Dubbed 'The Wonder Pianist’, he has been thrilling audiences since the age of five.
At the tender age of 14 he made his debut at New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta.
He is the grandson of Rowel Friers - the famous cartoonist, illustrator, painter and lithographer - whose work was regularly published on both sides of the Irish sea.
Rowel is currently studying for a BMus Performance degree at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, and is under the piano tutelage of Professor Réamonn Keary.
This year’s Young Musician of the Year competition will take place before an International Jury, chaired by Seamus Crimmins.
The Semi-Finals take place on Thursday at 1pm and 7pm, with the finals following on Saturday at 7pm.
