Carrickfergus Grammar School pupil Phoebe wins augural Colin Mawby Composition Prize

Phoebe Savage, 17, was selected from over 30 students across Ireland and Northern Ireland and, as part of the prize, her winning composition titled “Time of Roses” will be performed at April’s New Music Dublin festival by Chamber Choir Ireland.

The award is named in honour of the late Colin Mawby, who co-founded Chamber Choir Ireland along with Karina Lundström in 1996.

Colin previously served as Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, and from 1981 he was the choral director at RTÉ.

The new award will be given each year to one young person at secondary school level in recognition of outstanding achievement.

Speaking at the award ceremony in the National Concert Hall, Chamber Choir Ireland CEO Majella Hollywood congratulated the young people involved. “We’re thrilled to announce the winner of the inaugural Colin Mawby Composition Prize, in honour of the legacy of the choir's founder.

"It is our vision that the annual award will help inspire and nurture the future generation of young composers in Ireland. Congratulations to all the students who took part from schools across the country, and to the winner Phoebe Savage, we look forward to seeing your work performed live at New Music Dublin.”

The winner was selected from participants in this year's Composers in the Classroom initiative. The annual outreach educational programme, in partnership with the Contemporary Music Centre, gives secondary school students across Ireland the opportunity to compose their own choral music.

Applications for the next round of Composers in the Classroom will open later this spring, and music teachers are encouraged to apply on behalf of their students for the 2026/27 intake.

The new award has been established to mark Chamber Choir Ireland’s 30th anniversary. Elsewhere as part of the anniversary programme, the choir was due to perform “Love Blooms”, a romance-themed concert under guest director Ellie Slorach at Dublin's Pepper Canister Church on Saturday, February 7.

Following that, the choir’s newly appointed conductor and artistic director, Gabriel Crouch, will make his debut with “To Star the Dark”, spotlighting 21st century women composers in concerts at Pepper Canister Church in Dublin on Saturday, March 7, and at Clonmel's Finding a Voice festival the following day, Sunday, March 8.

About Chamber Choir Ireland

Chamber Choir Ireland is funded by the Arts Council/ an Chomhairle Ealaíon, with support from Dublin City Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through its National Lottery Fund.

It reaches over a million listeners annually through broadcasts, streaming, and live performances, with a diverse programme that includes early music, choral masterpieces, and contemporary compositions by esteemed Irish and international composers.

A resident ensemble at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, the choir actively tours Ireland and abroad, participates in major festivals, and is dedicated to community engagement through educational initiatives.

CCI aims to make choral music accessible and to cultivate the next generation of composers, conductors, and singers.