November 5th, 2024. We are about to finish the search for the best young jazz musician in Ireland!
Limerick Jazz will host Young Irish Jazz Musician 2024 in University Concert Hall, Limerick on the evening of Sunday 17th November 2024. Finalists will perform with a professional house band before an expert panel of judges and a live audience. The final starts at 7.30pm and tickets are €10.00.
Young Irish Jazz Musician is a showcase for the best of emerging jazz talent across the island of Ireland. At the inaugural 2022 event the award went to pianist Nils Kavanagh from Sligo. Nils has gone on to a national tour and was Young Artist in Residence at the Sligo Jazz Festival in 2023. Limerick Jazz is delighted to announce that world renowned Limerick musician and composer Bill Whelan has agreed to adjudicate the event again.
The Young Irish Jazz Musician 2024 will be invited to perform at the internationally renowned Limerick Jazz Festival and will also receive a bursary of one thousand Euro to put towards developing their career through further study, performance or recording. The five finalists from Antrim (2), Carlow, Cork and Sligo are aged 18 to 23 and will perform on piano, guitar, clarinet and voice.
Nils Kavanagh, Young Irish Jazz Musician 2022 said:
“The award has been instrumental to the development of my career and has enabled me to achieve many things I would not have done otherwise at this stage in my life".
John Daly, Chair of Limerick Jazz said:
“Limerick Jazz are very excited to be continuing this great initiative for our up-and-coming generation of jazz musicians. It is a natural development of our long-running commitment to jazz education. It’s great to once again have the support of Bill and Ellen for this year’s event".
Limerick Jazz Society is the longest continually active jazz society in Ireland and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2012 with the first Limerick Jazz Festival. Its regular spring and autumn seasons feature performances by leading international and Irish performers. Since 2007 it has also provided jazz education programs through Limerick Jazz Workshop, the only regular jazz workshop in Ireland outside Dublin. Limerick Jazz Society is a registered charity and is supported by the Arts Council and Limerick City and County Council.
