Violinists Iona Wu and Kitty Sabry have won first and third prizes respectively at the 2026 TopSec Frank Maher Classical Music Awards, with four musicians from RIAM’s Young Artist Programme community among the six finalists.
Iona received the €5,000 top prize following her performances of Lili Boulanger’s Nocturne and Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor. She plans to put her winnings towards a new bow and registration fees for the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland.
Kitty took third prize, receiving a €300 bursary. Both violinists will also attend weeklong masterclasses in Europe in summer 2027, an opportunity offered to the top three prizewinners to mark the awards’ 25th anniversary.
The final took place on Friday 23 October at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin, with RTÉ lyric fm presenter Marty Whelan as master of ceremonies.
Iona, a sixth-year student at Wesley College in Dublin, previously participated in RIAM’s Young Artist Programme. Kitty, who attends Seamount College in Galway, is a current member, alongside fellow finalists Aran Cahalan, flute, and Ruby Creighton-Kowalsky, violin. Aran attends Wilson’s Hospital School in Westmeath and Ruby attends Newpark Comprehensive School in Dublin.
The judging panel praised Iona’s technical command, expressive range and ability to communicate with an audience.
Established in 2001 in memory of music teacher Fr Frank Maher, the awards support the musical development of sixth-year students across Ireland.
Congratulations to Iona, Kitty, Aran and Ruby, and to the teachers and families supporting them. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and look forward to following their next steps.