Multi-prizewinner Maeve Ashamar-Hora, Professor Gerard Gillen, left, (retired Professor of Music, Maynooth University, and one of Ireland’s leading concert organists), and Gerard Lillis, Maeve’s teacher, and current director of The Schola Cantorum at St Finian’s College, Mullingar.

Schola Cantorum student wins Fitzgerald Woodworth Cup

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Leaving Certificate student Maeve Ashamar-Hora was awarded The Fitzgerald Woodworth Cup having won first prize in the Senior Organ competition at Feis Ceoil, Dublin.

Maeve was also awarded the Sr Catherine McCauley Perpetual Cup by the distinguished adjudicator Professor John Butt from Glasgow University, a prestigious award made to the most promising student from the three most advanced organ solo competitions at Feis Ceoil.

Maeve is a sixth year scholarship student at The Schola Cantorum Music School attached to St Finian’s College, Mullingar. The Schola Cantorum is a specialist church music school which was established in St Finian’s by the Irish Bishops in 1970 for the training of church organists and choral directors.

Over the last 55 years, the Schola has made a tremendous contribution to the liturgical life of the church in Ireland and to the musical life of the country.

The training of church organists is a core element of the musical education programme at the Schola, and the 12 young organists from the Schola who performed to a standard at this year’s Feis Ceoil is a testament of the high standards which continue to permeate in the Schola today.

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