Talented Laois musician (17) helps launch national contest
Heywood CS student Emily Dunphy (centre) with Isabel Hayden and Grammy-nominated conductor Elaine Kelly at a photocall in Kilkenny Castle, to launch the Frank Maher Classical Music Awards which will close for applications on 2 October. Photo: Patrick Browne
A TALENTED teenage musician from Laois helped launch the national 2026 Frank Maher Classical Music Awards for secondary schools, which has a top prize of €5,000.
The closing date is looming for the annual competition, which marks its 25th anniversary this October.
Cellist Emily Dunphy (17), who attends Heywood Community School in Ballinakill, joined Grammy-nominated conductor Elaine Kelly and Kilkenny College student and violinist Isabel Hayden (17) at a photocall in Kilkenny Castle to launch the awards.
As well as a €5,000 top prize, designed to further their music education and development, the winner will also attend a fully funded European Masterclass and Workshop next summer. Finalists will receive a €300 cash bursary.
The largest classical music competition for secondary school students in Ireland, the awards have grown from a modest school event in Dublin into a prestigious national competition, which has attracted the best and brightest of teen classical music talent. Many winners have gone on to make careers in music.
The awards were founded by Emmet O’Rafferty, chair of TopSec Cloud Solutions, to honour the legacy of his former teacher Frank Maher, a pioneer in nurturing musical talent.
The awards have been supported by some of the biggest names in Irish classical and popular music, including singer, songwriter and composer Phil Coulter, Oscars conductor Eimear Noone and Lyric FM’s Marty Whelan.
The competition is open to sixth year students who play string, woodwind, brass or piano and the closing date is Friday, 2 October 2026.
Application forms and further information are available at www.frankmaherclassicalmusicawards.com.
