Virtuoso violinist Patrick Rafter and pianist Lance Coburn perform Beethoven’s Sonata 5 ‘Spring’  and Franck’s Sonata in A at the Freemason’s Hall Dublin on April 9th Tickets €15 and early booking recommended.

“belonging amongst the greatest violinists, except for names such as Maxim Vengerov, Itzhak Perlman and Nigel Kennedy, I cannot think of those with whom I can compare you! .. This is passionate abandoned playing, full of excitement, risks and drama… a dangerously virtuosic ability which seems to feed off itself.”

– Alexander Bailie, RDS Music Festival

Regarded as one of Ireland’s most promising musicians, international award winning violinist Patrick Rafter has toured Europe, Asia and America as Concert Violinist, Chamber and Orchestral musician, and currently studies under Maxim Vengerov and Oleg Kaskiv at the International Menuhin Music Academy(IMMA), Switzerland. Most recently, Patrick was awarded 1st prize at the International Valiant Violin Competition in Switzerland held in August, 2016. During his career, he has studied with and performed alongside names such as Maxim Vengerov, Schlomo Mintz, Barry Douglas, John O’Conor, Arvo Part, Semyon Bychkov, Marin Alsop, Sir Mark Elder and Gianedra Noseda.

Born in 1991 into a highly musical family in Kilkenny Ireland, Patrick studied under Fionnuala Hunt at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and subsequently with Mateja Marincovic at the Royal Academy of Music London. At 17, he was awarded the highest ever mark of 99% at Ireland’s most prestigious music festival – Dublin’s ‘Feis Ceoil’. Patrick has received a host of Ireland’s most prestigious awards including the RDS Music Bursary, National Concert Hall Young Musician of the Year, Clandeboye/Accenture Young Musician of the Year, Kilkenny Person of the Year(Music) amongst many others.

As a concertmaster, Patrick was principle violinist with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Royal Academy of Music Symphony and Concert Orchestra amongst others and regularly leads the International Menuhin Music Academy Soloists.

2016/2017 Season for Patrick includes performances in Ireland, UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Ukraine and South America and also solo appearances and debuts with RTE Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Mannheim Chamber Orchestra, IMMA Soloists, Dublin Orchestral Players amongst others.

Patrick plays on a Georges Chanot violin, kindly supported by the Irish Department of Arts and Heritage. He is also incredibly grateful to be tailored by ‘A hand tailored suit’.

Lance Coburn – Piano

…one sat awe-inspired in amazement, wondering how it could possibly be played any better…” is how the Kölnische Rundschau described Lance Coburn’s performance of Prokofiev’s 3rd Piano Concerto. Since winning first prize at the Tomassoni International Piano Competition, Cologne in 2001, Lance has performed in Austria, Germany, Italy, Greece, Israel, Russia, United States, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and Korea as both concerto soloist and recitalist.

He has performed with the Central Florida , the Israel and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, the RTE National Symphony and Hibernian Orchestras in Dublin, and most other Australian Orchestras. With the WDR – Cologne Orchestra, one critic described his performance of Beethoven’s “Emperor” concerto thus: “Coburn approached the grandiose work….with the vigour of a classically-inspired artist”.

In the Bonn International Beethoven Festival, critics described his five-sonata recital as –“refreshing….uncompromising….unacademic….” In the Accademia Filharmonica Concert Series– Verona , Italy – the critics said – “Coburn’s piano playing is characterised by an undoubted technical mastery…[which]…allowed us to experience precious moments of tonal exploration”.

Blessed with a dazzling technique and innate musicianship, and a charismatic performance flair, Lance also broadcasts frequently for radio Deutsche Welle, BBC Radio 3, Lyric fm ( Ireland ) and ABC FM ( Australia ).

He has given master classes for music festivals in Australia, in the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide and in the Tyalgum Festival in Queensland. In 2006 he presented a lecture recital in Dublin ’s Royal Irish Academy of Music on Carl Vine’s solo piano works, a composer whose works he has a close affinity with.

Lance has also been the recipient of many other first prizes, including the Hephizibah Menuhin Scholarship, the inaugural Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition, and the Australian Young Performers’ Award (Keyboard Section), culminating in a performance of Liszt’s 1st Piano Concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, in the Sydney Opera House, which was also broadcast live across Australia on ABC Television.

Beginning his studies in his homeland of New Zealand, Lance furthered them in Australia, the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire – Moscow and finally with John O’Conor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.He enjoys an active freelance career as a solo performer, chamber musician and accompanist. He is also a full-time staff member of the keyboard faculty in the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Lance lives in Dublin with his wife and two children.