The piano can be heard loud and professionally played at St. Mary’s Church and a few other venues over five days of the 13th annual New Ross Piano Festival which got under way on Wednesday when 20 young pianists played the Steinway concert for sheer fun and enjoyment.
Thursday’s events included lunchtime jazz session with The Phil Ware Trio and evening jazz with Swedish pianist and composer Lars Jansson and both performances were well received.
Today’s (Friday) programme kicks off with a Coffee Concert at 12 noon with Waterford pianist Billy O’Brien performing a concert featuring the works of Chopan, Debussy and Scriabin.

FINGHIN COLLINS

The main opening concert at 8 pm tonight presents Anne-Marie McDermott performing Bach’s Third English Suite, Alexandra Dariescu with Svetlin Roussev (violin) and Marc Coppey (cello) performing Shostakovich’s second Piano Trio and Finghin Collins will conclude performing Chopin’s 24 Preludes.
Many of the same performers will play At the Evening Concert on Saturday night and the Late Night Concert features David Greilsammer.
A Coffee Concert with Marcos Madrigal performing works by Scriabin, Severac, Poulenc and Latin-American music is planned for Sunday at 12 noon.
The closing concert takes place in St. Mary’s Church on Sunday at 3.30 pm and it is a fantastic programme. Alexandra Dariescu performing French delacacies by Germaine Tailleferre and Messiaen, Finghin Collins with Svetlin Roussev and Marc Coppey performingSchubert’s B flat major Trio, with Anne-marie McDermott performing Haydn’s late C major sonata and Prokofiev’s 6th sonata.
Finghin Collins is Artist Director and Connie Tantrum is Festival Director.
For tickets contact St. Michael’s Theatre Box Office on 051 421255 or visit the website for more information – www.newrosspianofestival.com