Young Cork Classical Guitarist David Keating is a Prizewinner in National Music Competition
Published on: Saturday, 19 November 2011
22 year old Classical Guitarist David Keating, a 4th Year Music Degree Student in the CIT Cork School of Music where he studies guitar with Jerry Creedon, has achieved third place in the Final of the Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year Competition which was held in Dublin on the 8th October, 2011. David was also awarded the John Vallery Memorial Prize for the Best Performance by a String Player in the Competition. He was the only finalist from outside of Dublin.
He came through the semi-finals on the 6th October from a group of 14 competitors, drawn from the main Irish Music Colleges: The CIT Cork School of Music, The Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin; The DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin, and The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick (MA in Classical String Performance).
David's performance in the Final of the Competition was subsequently broadcasted on RTE Lyric FM.
David began studying the guitar in the CSM with Jerry Creedon at the age of 7 and achieved Grade 8 standard at age 14. Prizes for his classical guitar playing include the Rose Bowl and Classical Guitar award at Feis Ceoil, Dublin, as well as the Pro Musica Trophy for stringed instruments, and the Teachers Association Music Bursary and classical guitar trophy at Feis Maitiu, Cork.
(L-R) David Keating with Lecturer Jerry Creedon, and Dr Geoffrey Spratt, Director of the CIT Cork School of Music. (Picture courtesy Evening Echo)
In his final year at CSM, David is specialising in the art of performance. This affinity with performance has seen him give numerous solo recitals at several national venues, including Farmleigh House, Lismore Castle, and the Kinsale Arts Festival. He has also appeared as featured soloist with the Cork Youth Orchestra and Cork Sinfonietta.
Aside from his solo playing, David also has a keen interest in chamber music and is a regular member of the Diversus Ensemble (a 25 piece guitar orchestra), who have toured both Ireland and abroad.
He has received masterclasses with some of the world’s top guitarists including John Williams, Xue Fei Yang, William Kanengiser, Scott Tennant, and Craig Odgen. Upon completion of his BMus, David hopes to pursue a Masters in Performance.
