New Ross Piano Festival

New Ross Piano Festival has built a reputation for having interesting pianists and wide-ranging repertoire. It is unusual in its format. There are three main concerts, at which three international pianists share the platform. This is interesting for the artists, but even more so for the audience. There are also a number of other solo and ensemble concerts and fringe events.

After the student concert on September 27, the weekend kicks off with a free opening concert at 6pm on Friday 28 which will showcase American standards and jazz piano. The main concert at 8pm will feature our guest pianists, Martina Filjak, winner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, Finghin Collins, and Bart van de Roer’s piano trio, Trio Storioni.

On Saturday morning emerging pianist, Dimitri Papadimitriou will give a solo recital. This will be followed in the afternoon by a public masterclass for 3rd level pianists, a main concert at 7.30pm with the same pianists as Friday, and a late-night concert with Hugh Tinney, who will play a concert devoted to John Cage and some of his composer influences such as Satie and Greig.

On Sunday there will be another morning concert with an emerging pianist, the Chinese girl, Mélodie Zhao. The closing concert at 3.30pm will again feature the three main pianists.

As well as these formal concerts, we have a number of pianos in odd places around the town for anyone who wants to play them. The local hotel is planning informal recitals between the main concerts and also an intriguing 'Haunted House Piano Recital' in a local historic building.

New Ross is near Rosslare ferry port and Waterford Airport, and central to the interesting towns of Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford.