New Ross Piano Festival returns to Wexford next month

The town of New Ross in County Wexford, Ireland will next month host piano talent from across the globe alongside over 3,000 visitors with the return of the New Ross Piano Festival. With a five-day programme spanning classical, jazz, contemporary and beyond, this year’s festival ill run from 25 to 29 September.

The festival will open with a Young Pianists concert, offering a platform for emerging artists, and will present a programme of 12 concerts in New Ross’s St. Mary’s Church. The programme highlights homegrown talent with an emphasis on Irish pianists including Belfast-born Michael McHale who presents Irish melodies and American jazz standards on 26 September and Dublin pianist Eoin Fleming, who gives a free recital for secondary students the following morning.

New Ross Piano Festival artistic director Finghin Collins said: ‘We are very excited to present such distinguished artists in New Ross this year. Over the past 18 years, the town has become synonymous with piano performances of the highest quality for audiences of all ages to enjoy. We have carefully curated a lineup that promises to be a celebration of the piano, featuring a range of world-class performances in an intimate setting.’

Collins will also feature in the festival programme with a concert highlighting the work of Clara and Robert Schumann as well as marking the Stanford centenary. British pianists Paul Lewis and Steven Osborne each offer solo performances, before coming together to present Schubert duets.

Dublin International Piano Competition winner Yukine Kuroki will give a Coffee Concert placing the music of Liszt and Prokofiev alongside music by Osaka-born composer Tokuyama Minoko, while Leeds competition winner Sofya Gulyak will highlight the music of Chopin and Bach on 29 September. The festival closes with two closing concerts by Steven Osborne and Trio Rodin, featuring a broad scope of repertoire.