Over 18 Flute: Michael MacConrai
Over 18 Fiddle: Michael O’Rourke
Over 18 Pipes: Risteard O’Muiri
Over 18 Whistle: Aidan O’Neill
15-18 Flute: James Mahon
Under 15 Flute: Fergus McGorman
Hear some of them (including wonderkid McGorman playing Colonel Frazier!) on Ceili HOuse (see the Aug 28th program and click on it)
at: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/story/1015163.html
McGorman is about 18 minutes into the program.
By the way…my old group where I taught, St. Louis Irish Arts, was the ONLY first place medal taken by an American this year (I think). They won in the Over 18 Instrumental Group.
Congrats to them!
Its an interesting thing teh fleadh flute competition this year. The adjudicator gave all of the senior competitors the tongue-lashing of their lives. It was basically (paraphrasing):
“The standard has really fallen in this competition. This is the all-Ireland senior competition. You are not playing for yourself or as if you are in a session. You are supposed to play such that any younger player who listens will want to play like you someday. We heard that from nobody today. Not a single player played their air correctly…” etc.
This went on for a good few minutes. Felt like I had been sent to the headmaster’s office, and I was just watching, not competing!
That being said, there were a couple of meltdowns in the competition, but I would ascribe that to nerves, not to lack of talent.
Americans in general did get squished this year. Some years the judges like a little not-quite-as-trad or American type styles, sometimes they don’t. That being said, you always have to remember that this really all comes down to opinion, not to much else. And while its true that the champions do deserve recognition, its also true that in some cases, the field is honestly too close to call, and that there is a fair amount of luck involved.
For those who may not know, Fergus McGorman is the son of Catherine McEvoy and her husband Tom McGorman, both fine flute players. The apple does not fall far from the tree…
Tsk, tsk, John!
Was trying to let good young Fergus fend for himself, so I intentionally left out his mommy/daddy connection. (wink)
I agree with the assessment of this year’s competition and the tounge lashings. The adjudicators are under no obligation to hand out a first, second or third place medal at all. It’s happened before.
But these competitions are as much luck as they are political. Having competed myself a few times, it’s not hard to miss.
Still, nice to see who the up-and-comers are for when their CDs come out!
Next week’s Ceili House is more of the same…from the Fleadh.
I agree about nerves probably being responsible for melt-downs. I have two friends, one a concertina player, the other a piper. Both are incredible musicians, could easily be recording artists, but choose not to. They both competed at different times. They both experienced nerve-related meltdowns. And they are far better than most of us!
I heard the Fergus McGorman recording a few weeks ago, and was well impressed with that particular performance. I’ve also heard him a couple of times now on stage at the Flute/Whistle recital at the Willie Clancy week, up on stage playing along with his parents. Sounds like he could have won the Senior as well !
Rob - just out of interest, do you know who the Senior flute adjudicator was ?
Yep I have the nerves thing myself, practice well… go to club… half hour later I play terrible,… weird as I’m not the nervous type except when performing. Getting a bit better though. Suppose it’s experience that counts here.
