The Clandeboye Festival, which is taking place this week, is giving 11 young musicians the chance to take to the stage as part of the Camerata Ireland Academy.

The 11 soloists will perform in a Young Musicians Showcase Gala tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd August) in the historic surroundings of the Clandeboye Estate, Co. Down. It will be the first time that students have returned to the renowned festival in person since 2020.

This talented group of young musicians come from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and are advanced players, studying at, or recently graduated from, specialist music conservatoires.

Throughout this week they will will take part in masterclasses and rehearsals with the festival’s international guest soloists including the Clandeboye Festival’s Founder and Artistic Director, Barry Douglas (piano), Dmitry Sitkovetsky (violin), Ed Creedon (viola), Arto Noras (cello), Ailish Tynan (soprano), Richard Watkins (French horn) and Michel Lethiec (clarinet).

For the duration of the festival, the students stay in the inspiring surroundings of the Clandeboye Estate, and all tuition, accommodation and board is free, making it unique to the island of Ireland.

Jack Myles, the 2022 Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year, who is currently studying trombone performance at the Royal Academy of Music said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to take part in this year’s Camerata Ireland Academy. As a young musician, to have the chance to take part in masterclasses with international guest soloists and perform at such a prestigious festival is incredibly inspiring. It is a fantastic platform for us as musicians and getting the chance to watch other masterclasses, dress rehearsals and concerts is simply amazing.The generosity and support of the international artists, and Barry especially, in coaching and encouraging us is very unique and special.

Founder and Artistic Director of the Clandeboye Festival, Barry Douglas said: The Camerata Ireland Academy is a prestigious programme, with an incredible list of alumni who are now pursuing international careers. At Camerata Ireland, we aim to support them in the transition between studying and establishing professional careers, with many young musicians going on to play with the orchestra and returning to perform at the Clandeboye Festival. This year, former Camerata Ireland Academy young musicians Ben Gannon (oboe), Aoife Burke (cello), Eimear McGeown (flute) and Cathal Breslin (piano) and Patrick Rafter (violin) will also return to perform as soloists during the festival.”

The Clandeboye Festival is a week of world-class music, with lunchtime, afternoon and evening concerts taking place in the unique and intimate setting of the Banqueting Hall and Chapel at Clandeboye.

Alongside performances of much loved music by Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, this year’s festival will celebrate the life of Polish composer Penderecki, who would have been 90 this year, as well as paying tribute to the late Lady Dufferin, whose legacy lives on in the continued success of the Festival.

The Clandeboye Festival is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Randox and the Dufferin Foundation.


A limited number of tickets for the 2023 Clandeboye Festival are still available. For further information go to www.camerata-ireland.com/clandeboye2023