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Irish Independent

Two young musicians awarded bursary in memory of true stalwart of the Wexford stage

The bursary was established in 2023, a year following Betty's sad passing. The award was an apt way to honour Betty's memory given her long history in the musical societies of Wexford. Betty was extremely well-known for her work with the likes of Wexford Light Opera Society (WLOS) and Wexford Festival Opera, as well as volunteering experience stretching back to 1968 with the Wexford Festival Opera. Betty served as chairperson for Music for Wexford from 2007 until her passing in 2022. The bursary in her memory will go on to help classical guitarist Dean Glynn and Irish harpist Mollie Carroll, two exceptionally talented young artists from County Wexford. Dean Glynn began studying classical guitar at the age of 6 at the County Wexford School of Music under David Creevy. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, studying under Peter Katona. Dean's accolades include winning the Bach Guitar Prize at Feis Ceoil 2024, and being a finalist and prize-winner in the inaugural Maeve Broderick Prize for Strings, where he received awards for both Most Original Programme and Best Audience Engagement. He has also performed at ChamberFest Dublin and on the main stage of the National Opera House, and serves on the Music for Wexford Youth Committee. Mollie Carroll has played the Irish harp since the age of eight. Music has always been a central part of her life, and she uses the harp as a way to explore both tradition and innovation. While her heart lies in traditional Irish music, she loves fusing styles, experimenting with pop, rock, and classical genres to shape her sound. Mollie performs with the Wexford Harp Ensemble and is a member of CCÉ Gorey/Ballygarrett. The bursary audition panel consisted of Beth McNinch (Viola), Aisling Ennis (Harp), Caitriona Frost (Percussion), and Eamon Sweeney (Guitar). Speaking on the award, artistic director Beth McNinch said: "Both young musicians showed outstanding musical talent and connection with the audience in their auditions, and the panel felt that together they would provide a really interesting concert to close out our Summer Season." Music for Wexford believes it is vital to offer young musicians paid performance opportunities, which can be difficult to find outside of school or college. To address this, the organisation has dedicated its July programming to supporting emerging artists, with lunchtime concerts on July 2, 9, and 16 at 1 p.m. in St Iberius Church, featuring musicians from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Cork School of Music. ADVERTISEMENT These concerts promise a vibrant mix of wind, brass, piano, voice, and strings. In addition, all bursary applicants are invited to 'take over' Music for Wexford's Culture Night programming each year, curating and performing their own concerts. This initiative provides a unique and valuable learning experience for the next generation of performers. As part of their award, Dean and Mollie will perform a lunchtime concert on Wednesday, July 23 at 1 p.m. in St Iberius Church, Wexford, closing out Music for Wexford's summer season. Audiences can look forward to a refreshing blend of classical, traditional Irish, and contemporary arrangements. Tickets can be bought on the official Music for Wexford website.