With a prize fund of €10,000, the RDS Music Bursary is one of the largest single bursaries on offer to a young musician in Europe. Open to both vocalists and instrumentalists, the Bursary aims to assist a young professional musician develop their career through further study at home or abroad or for the purchase of a suitable musical instrument.

Awarded on an annual basis since 2003, the RDS Music Bursary is open to winners of selected senior competitions in the ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil. This year, in addition to the €10,000 Bursary, the winner will also be offered a solo engagement with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra during 2013/14.

Winners of the following competitions are invited to submit an application and if short-listed are invited to attend an interview.

• Morris Grant Cup
• Gervase Elwes Cup
• Yamaha Brass Bursary
• Aileen Gore Cup
• Guitar Bach Prize
• McCullough Cup
• Mabel Swainson Pianoforte Award.

The RDS Music Bursary is a key part of the RDS Foundation’s Arts programme which aims to provide a platform that supports the transition from student to emerging artist; encouraging the pursuit of a career in visual arts, crafts or music.

The 2013 RDS Music Bursary winner was soprano Kelley Lonergan (pictured) from Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Kelley joins an impressive list of previous winners including soprano Anna Devin, who recently graduated from the award winning Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and is currently a member of the Jette Parker Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera House, London.

The inaugural winner, Redmond O'Toole has emerged as one of the most innovative and exciting young guitarists in Europe. In recent years his programme has included a tour of Spain with the Chieftains, a BBC broadcast with the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Montgomery and a performance with the critically acclaimed Dutch soprano Charlotte Riedjik at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival.

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