Applications now open for the Trench Award 2025

Birr Festival of Music has announced that applications are now open for The Trench Award 2025.

Applications are invited from emerging singers and instrumentalists who are pursuing a career in professional performance in classical music.

The deadline for applications is Thursday. February 20 next at 3pm and full details of how to apply are on: www.birrfestivalofmusic.com

The Trench Award is €5000 and further bursaries may also be awarded including the Birr Lions Club Bursary, the Canto al Serchio Prize (for voice), The Connolly Award for Voice (new in 2025) and the Audience Prize.

Six finalists will be invited to perform a 15-minute programme at The Trench Award Gala Concert at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr, Co. Offaly on May 5 when The Trench Award and other bursaries will be awarded by an international selection panel.

Now in its 12th year, The Trench Award aims to assist an emerging artist from the Midlands region to develop their professional career through further study at home or abroad. Applicants must be from the general Midlands region and, whle there is no upper age limit, applicants should be enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate programme in Music Performance, participating in a Young Artist Programme, or less than two years of completing their studies.

As the purpose and priorities of the award is to help artists develop their craft, applicants should not be undertaking a significant level of professional work and should be very clearly identifiable as ‘emerging’ artists.

Birr Festival of Music Director, Maureen de Forge, welcomed the Connolly Award for Voice to the range of bursaries in The Trench Award. This new award will be presented for five years to a singer in The Trench Award, starting in 2025.

Presented by Brian Connolly and family in memory of Mary and Eamonn Connolly who shared a lifelong love of music and singing and who contributed to music in Birr through their membership of St. Brendan's Church Choir, Birr Choral Society and Birr Stage Guild over many years, Maureen de Forge sais the Birr Festival of Music "greatly appreciates the presentation of this award by the Connolly family - Brian, Noelle and Trish.”