Junior RIAM student Ai Lin Sun was announced winner of the Ursula Uí Chuinneagáin Bursary for Young Pianists 2024.
After a tough preliminary round during the day, there were six finalists chosen to compete for the €2,000 bursary and perpetual trophy.
Other finalists were Senan Sheridan, Aidan Keane, Juliette Carroll-Breen and Yuhan Xue. Our jury consisted of Brendan Bresiln, Head of Junior, Adult and Lifelong Learning, RIAM, Ross Lyness, Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion, RIAM, Luke Ó Cuinneagáin, and Darina Ní Cuinneagáin.
Ai Lin Sun is a 17-year-old pianist from Dublin who began her musical journey at the age of 10. Ai Lin is currently a student of Prof. Hugh Tinney here at the Academy and over the past seven years, she has won numerous accolades at both national and international levels, including 1st prize winner of the prestigious Fr Frank Maher Classical Music Award 2024, Belfast Music Festival, a 2nd Prize winner in the John Field International Piano Competition, and prize winner at the Canada International Youth Piano Festival.
Feis Ceoil has also been a major platform for Ai Lin's success. She has won 1st prizes in almost all the piano competitions across multiple categories from 2021-2023. Notably, she was invited to perform at the 2022 Feis Ceoil Winners' Gala Concert in the RDS Concert Hall. At just 15, she won 1st prize in the senior Huban Cup and €1000 Patrick Brennan Award in 2023. Her versatility extends to the organ, with a 1st prize in the Junior Organ competition 2024, achieved after only five months of study.
Ai Lin has won all the piano competitions while previously studying at TU Dublin Conservatoire in both junior and senior categories at the age of 15 and has performed at prominent venues such as the National Concert Hall, Dublin City Hall, the Helix DCU, and the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Her concert appearances include performances at the Boyle Arts Music Festival, Emmanuel Concert Series in the Helix DCU, and RIAM Young Artists events at Farmleigh House and Airfield Estate. She has also contributed as an accompanist for RIAM Christmas Cello Concerts and collaborated in chamber music performances. Recently she was also invited to play on RTÉ LyricFM and had an interview with Marty Whelan. Next February, she will also be performing at the Royal Festival Hall in London representing her school, the Institute of Education.
Ai Lin also holds the Licentiate (LTCL) and Fellowship (FTCL) diplomas from Trinity College London in Piano Performance, achieved with distinction, equivalent in standard to a postgraduate course recital at a conservatoire or university.