Congratulations to Ruby Creighton Kowalsky, who was a finalist at the 2026 TopSec Frank Maher Classical Music Awards, Ireland’s largest classical music competition for secondary schools. Ruby was one of only six finalists at the competition in the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin. On the night Ruby performed two pieces – Nocturne No.20 by composer Frédéric Chopin and Romanian Folk Dances by composer Béla Bartok.

Chairman Emmet O’Rafferty said “It was a great pleasure to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the TopSec Frank Maher Classical Music Awards and to experience the extraordinary standard of young musical talent coming through Irish schools.

My congratulations to Ruby and to all our finalists who took part in the competition night and over the past 25 years, it has been hugely rewarding to see how the Awards have helped young musicians pursue their ambitions. I look forward to seeing what the next generation will achieve.”