Young Musicwide 2009 application form available here (PDF 1.8kb).

Young Musicwide is a unique professional development scheme designed to assist a selected group of Ireland's brightest young musicians at the beginning of their professional career. Through an annual audition process, an Irish or Ireland based ensemble, with a proven interest in performance is selected annually to participate in the Young Musicwide Award programme for three years.

Young Musicwide is a unique professional development scheme designed to assist a selected group of Ireland's brightest young musicians at the beginning of their professional career. Through an annual audition process, an Irish or Ireland based ensemble, with a proven interest in performance is selected annually to participate in the Young Musicwide Award programme for three years.

According to Deirdre McCrea, CEO of Music Network, "Music Network is committed to supporting the professional development of Irish musicians and the Young Musicwide Award is one of a range of supports that we offer. This award offers young ensembles with a vital incentive to stay together as a unit, and pursue a professional performing career - too often there are other higher paid distractions that can drive ensembles apart, and it takes real commitment to stay together and really make the group work. Young Musicwide aims to provide ensembles with the focus and regular working opportunities to stick at it and develop their ensemble playing, build their repertoire, etc. At the same time, it provides our network of partner concert promoters around Ireland and, in turn, their audiences, with access to the very best of emerging Irish talent."

Modeled on international examples, Young Musicwide is designed to provide up to three ensembles annually with an incentive to pursue a professional career in music performance, and to provide promoters nationwide with access to the very best of emerging Irish talent. The main features of the award are:

• Performance opportunities with Music Network promoters in Ireland.
• An agreed fee and expenses for each concert.
• A specially designed publicity package.
• Professional support and advice towards the development of participants' careers as a professional group/ensemble.
• Masterclass/workshop opportunities.
• A promotional CD.
• A Dublin showcase concert.
• After a 3 year period, an invitation to the group, subject to agreement, to join the Music Network artist roster.

Previous recipients of the award are as follows:

• The Callino Quartet (2001)
• Voice and piano duo Ailish Tynan and Deborah Kelleher (2002)
• Clarinetist Carol McGonnell (2003)
• Organics jazz trio (2004)
• Traditional group Slide (2005)
• Piano, cello and violin trio The Syrius Trio (2006)
• Harp, flute and viola trio, Triocca (2006)
• Trihornophone jazz quartet (2007)
• Fidil traditional Irish group (2008)

Irish Times (06/07/07) article about the first 6 years of Young Musicwide.

RTÉ lyric fm (02/06/07) Artszone sound clip about the Organics and Triocca experiences as part of Young Musicwide.