HMV EXCLUSIVELY REVEAL THE SOLOIST 2015 SEMI-FINALISTS 

HMV EXCLUSIVELY REVEAL THE SOLOIST 2015 SEMI-FINALISTS 

As proud sponsor of The Soloist 2015, hmv are delighted to reveal the performers that are going through to the semi-final of this year’s talent competition, organised by the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland (CBOI).

Out of over 450 singers, musicians and dancers who entered, 35 semi-finalists were picked from all corners of the island and will perform live in front of a panel of judges on Sunday 9th of August from 2pm, in the historic Freemasons’ Hall on Molesworth St in Dublin. The top 10 scoring performers will go on to compete in The Soloists Final, which is taking place later that day in the same venue.

This year’s lucky winner will join the CBOI, a full symphony orchestra comprised of over 100 young musicians from North and South of the border, as they perform to over 30,000 people nationwide in some of Ireland’s most iconic venues, including the RDS in Dublin and the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. In addition to this unique opportunity, the winner will also receive a €1,000 cash prize.

Paul McGowan, CEO of hmv owners Hilco Capital, said: “hmv are proud supporters of Irish music, so we’re delighted to be involved with such a wonderful initiative. The Soloist has already unearthed some seriously talented Irish performers and the standard of this year’s competition has been really high. We’re confident that we’ll be able to follow through on our promise of finding Ireland’s next big talent and look forward to seeing what the finalist have to offer on the day.”

Sharon Treacy-Dunne, CEO of the CBOI, said: “Under the sponsorship of hmv, The Soloist has managed to grow even bigger this year. I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the semi-finalists on making it through to the live finals, and indeed to everyone who entered the competition. I’d also like to thank Paul McGowan, CEO of hmv owners Hilco Capital, for his continued support of the CBOI as we endeavour to find Ireland’s next big talent.

This is the second year The Soloist has taken place, and the first year hmv have sponsored it. Last year’s competition was a rousing success, culminating with 17-year-old singer Megan Ruby Walsh from Navan, Co Meath winning the coveted prize.

For more information check out www.thesoloist.ie

The full list of semi-finalists for The Soloist 2015 are:

  • Zoe Talbot – Swords, Co.Dublin – Singer (Musical Theatre)
  • Labhaoise Mchugh – Skerries, Co.Dublin – Singer (Musical Theatre)
  • Luke Kehoe Roche – Rathgar, Dublin – Violin (Classical)
  • Matt Rafter – Naas, Co. Kildare – Cello (Rock/ Classical Crossover)
  • Kevin Neary – Ballinasloe, Co. Galway – Guitar / Singer (Pop / Acoustic)
  • Helen Keenan – Tydavnet, Co. Monaghan – Singer (Classical)
  • Catherine Mulcahy – Pallaskenr, Co. Limerick – Guitar (Pop)
  • Danielle Rogan – Craigavon, Co Armagh – Flute (Classical)
  • Chris Moriarty-Pearson – Celbridge, Co.Kildare – Clarinet (Classical)
  • Fionnuala Quinn – Dundalk, Co. Louth – Singer (Classical)
  • Donnchadh Hughes –  Dundalk, Co. Louth – Flute (Traditional Irish)
  • Katie O’Connor – Clarehill, Dublin – Singer (Pop / Jazz)
  • Philippa Carson – Ballsbridge, Dublin – Singer (Musical Theatre)
  • Daniel Kerr – Ballyclare, Co Antrim – (Musical Theatre)
  • Maria Meagher – Newry, Co. Down – Singer (Classical)
  • Aimee Banks – Moycullen, Galway – Singer (Classical)
  • Deirdre Anne Higgins – Moate, Co. Westmeath – Singer (Classical / Musical Theatre)
  • Orlaith Mulholland – Dundalk, Co. Louth – Singer (Classical)
  • Georgiana Malone – Enfeild, Co Meath – Singer (Classical)
  • Bianca Cristina Lucaci – Dublin – Singer/ Piano (Pop)
  • Aoife Brennan – Kells, Kilkenny – Singer / Piano (Pop/ Jazz / Classical)
  • Tara McNeill – Sandyford, Dublin – Voice / Violin / Harp (Celtic Classic Crossover)
  • Dana Dempsey – Santry, Dublin 9 – Singer (Pop)
  • Grace Evans – Kilquade, Co. Wicklow – Singer (Musical Theatre)
  • Leanna Marie Carragher – Bellurgan, Dundalk – Singer (Musical Theatre)
  • Melissa Murphy – Lexlip, Co. Kildare – Singer (Classical)
  • Clare Quinn – Renmore, Galway – Singer (Classical)
  • Sionan Mullan – Ballynahinch, Co Down – Singer (Classical / Contemporary)
  • Andrea Snyder – Co. Kilkenny – Singer (Pop)
  • Sinead Mary O Donovan – Clonmel, Tipperary – Singer (Classical/Musical Theatre)
  • Sinead Curran – Drogheda, Co. Louth – Singer (Musical Theatre, Country, Pop, Jazz)
  • Cian Brenan Gavin – Mullingar, Co. Westmeath – Singer (Classical/Musical Theatre)
  • Daniel Kearney – Dungarvan, Co Waterford – Piano (Classical)
  • Cheryl Ann Mccullagh – Singer (Country/ Pop / Jazz / Musical Theatre)
  • Sarah Richmond – Carrickfergus, Co Antrim – Singer (Classical)

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2015 SemiFinalists Announced

 

 

THE SOLOIST 2015 SEMIFINALISTSSemifinal will be held in the Freemasons’ Hall, Molesworth St., Dublin, at 2pm on Sunday 9th August. The final will follw directly after the semifinal.
Name Address 3 Voice Genre
1. Zoe Talbot Swords, Co.Dublin. Voice Musical Theatre
2. Labhaoise McHugh Skerries, Co Dublin Voice Musical Theatre
3. Luke Kehoe Roche Rathgar, Dublin 6 Violin Classical
4. Matt Rafter Naas, Co. Kildare Cello Rock/Classical Crossover
5. Kevin Neary Ballinasloe, Co. Galway Guitar, Voice Pop, Acoustic
6. Helen Keenan Tydavnet, Co. Monaghan Voice Classical
7. Catherine Mulcahy Pallaskenr, Co. Limerick Guitar Pop
8. Danielle Rogan Craigavon Flute Classical
9. Chris Moriarty-Pearson Celbridge, Co.Kildare Clarinet Classical
10. Fionnuala Quinn  Dundalk, Co. Louth Voice Classical
11. Donnchadh Hughes Dundalk Co.Louth Flute Traditional Irish
12. Katie O’ Connor Clarehill, Dublin 13 Voice Pop & Jazz
13. Philippa Carson Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Voice Musical Theatre
14. Daniel Kerr Ballyclare, N.I. Musical Theatre
15. Maria Meagher Newry, Co. Down, N.I. Voice Classical
16. Aimee Banks Moycullen, Galway Voice Classical
17. Deirdre Anne Higgins` Moate, Co. Westmeath Voice Classical/Musical Theatre
18. Orlaith Mulholland Dundalk, Co. Louth Voice Classical
19. Georgiana Malone Longwood, Enfeild Voice Classical
20. Bianca Cristina Lucaci Dublin 1 Piano  /Voice Pop
21. Aoife Brennan Kells, Kilkenny Voice /Piano Pop,Jazz,Classical
22. Tara Mcneill Sandyford, Dublin Voice/Violin/Harp Celtic Classical Crossover
23. Dana Dempsey  Snatry, Dublin 9 Voice Pop
24. Grace Evans Kilquade, Co. Wicklow Voice Musical Theatre
25. Leanna Marie Carragher Bellurgan, Dundalk Voice Musical Theatre
26. Melissa Murohy Lexlip, Co. Kildare Voice Classical
27. Clare Quinn  Renmore, Galway City Voice Classical Crossover
28. Sionan Mullan Ballynahinch, Co Down Voice Classical/ Contemporary
29. Andrea Snyder Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny Voice Pop
30. Sinead Mary O Donovan Clonmel, Tipperary Voice Classical/Musical Theatre
31. Sinead Curran Grange Rath, Drogheda, Co. Louth Voice (Alto) Musical Theatre, Country, Pop, Jazz
32. Cian Brenan Gavin Mullingar, Co. Westmeath Voice Classical/ Musical Theatre
33. Daniel Kearney Dungarvan, Co. Waterford Piano Classical
34. Cheryl Ann Mccullagh New York, NY Voice Country Pop Jazz Musical Theatre
35. Sarah Richmond Carrickfergus, Co Antrim Mezzo Soprano Classical

 

 

CBOI PERFORMS AT HMV, GRAFTON ST. FOR SOLOIST LAUNCH


Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland Members perform with “The Soloist 2014″ Winner,

Megan Ruby Walsh outside HMV – Grafton Street, Dublin for the launch of “The Soloist 2015″ Competition.

 

One lucky winner will win €1000 and perform to an audience of over 30,000 with the CBOI in venues like The RDS Arena,

Dublin and The Odyssey Arena, Belfast. The Soloist 2015 is open to Singers, Dancers and Musicians between the ages of

12 and 30. Enter now at www.thesoloist.ie.

 

The Soloist 2015 is proudly sponsored by HMV Ireland.