FTMA Finalist's 2019
We are delighted to introduce our three finalists for the Flax Trust Music Awards 2019 who competed in the Grand Final alongside the Ulster Orchestra.
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Andrew Douglas, First placeAndrew Douglas was born into a family of musicians and began studying the flute at the age of 6 under the guidance of Richard Douglas. During his time studying with Richard, Andrew was awarded first place in the prestigious Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year in 2012 and was named Principal Flute of the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra and Ulster Youth Orchestra. Andrew is a graduate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he graduated with honours under the tutelage of Janet Burnley, Richard Blake, Helen Brew and Katherine Bryan. As a freelance orchestral flautist, Andrew is a regular player with the Ulster Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra as Principal Flute/Second Flute and Principal Piccolo. Andrew has also performed alongside the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Orchestra of Scottish Ballet, Camerata Ireland, Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. A keen soloist, Andrew has performed the ‘Mendelssohn Violin Concerto’ and ‘Carmen Fantasy’ with the Ulster Orchestra. He has recorded Poulenc’s Sonata for Flute and Piano and Harty’s In Ireland for Radio Ulster’s ‘Classical Connections. He has also performed live on BBC Radio Ulster as a soloist and alongside Northern Irish flute quintet ‘Quicksilver’. Andrew is a recipient of the 2019 Young Musicians Platform Award, the 2019 Flax
Trust Arts Music Award and is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. |
Fiachra de hOra, Second placeDublin-born viola player Fiachra de hOra is quickly becoming one of Ireland's most prominent young musicians, and is in regular demand as a soloist and a chamber musician. He gave his own sold-out recital in the National Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry Recital Room in March this year. He has won all Junior Viola competitions in Feis Ceoil, and the Junior Rose Bowl for the highest marked string player. In June 2017, he became the first viola player to win the National Concert Hall Young Musicians’ Award. He is also winner of the Arthur Darley, Arthur Catterall and Senior Viola competitions in this year's Feis Ceoil. He was principal viola player of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland from 2015-2017, and has led the viola sections of the Orchestra of the Irish National Youth Ballet and the Dublin Youth Symphony Orchestra. He has also been principal viola player of the Young European Strings Chamber Orchestra, and he has toured with them to France, Belgium and Switzerland, winning international competitions.
Tom Myles, Third Place |
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Since performing in the woodwind final of BBC Young Musician (2018), Tom has played on the BBC Introducing Stage at Latitude Festival, performed as a soloist at BBC Proms in the Park and played Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland in the National Concert Hall, Dublin. Tom was also a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for four years, including two as principal clarinet, performing at many major concert halls throughout the UK including four BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. In October, Tom plans to study Natural Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
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