Tulla’s Sorcha Costello is to be awarded Young Musician of the Year at the Gradam Ceoil Awards.
Now in its twenty fourth year, the awards ceremony will be held on Halloween night to celebrate TG4’s 25th birthday from the Whitla Hall in Queens University Belfast. The Gradam Ceoil Awards pay homage to musicians who have advanced, strengthened, and preserved traditional music in Ireland.
Fiddle player, Sorcha Costello will be awarded the title of Young Musician of the Year. Sorcha’s musical lineage is peerless; her mother Mary MacNamara is a renowned concertina player and her grandmother Ita’s musical pedigree reached back generations while her father Kevin Costello makes and repairs concertinas.
Now based in Galway, Sorcha recently completed a masters in Music Therapy from the University of Limerick. Her debut album, The Lady’s Cup of Tea, features her mother, Mary, former MÓRglór award winner.
Gradam Ceoil TG4 is the premier annual traditional music awards scheme and academy. An independent panel of adjudicators select the recipients each year and they will be presented with a specially commissioned piece by leading sculptor John Coll as well as a small stipend.
TG4 Director General, Alan Esslemont, stated, “Gradam Ceoil TG4 is celebrating its 24th year this Halloween night which coincides with TG4’s 25th birthday. The awards pay homage to those who have done so much to advance and strengthen traditional music in Ireland and around the world”.
Angelina Carberry will receive the Musician of the Year, Steve Cooney will be named Composer of the Year with Niall Hanna (Singer of the Year), Seán Ó Sé (Lifetime Achievement Award) and the Glengormley School of Traditional Music (Outstanding Contribution Award) to be honoured also.
