Talented young Derry musician wins Thomas Devlin bursary

Rebecca Doherty is one of seven young people have been granted awards this year to enable them to participate in master classes and academic studies in the field of music.

Rebecca received her Music award alongside the other six during a celebration event at the MAC in Belfast recently.

She now plans to use her bursary to attend the Woodhouse Advanced Recorder Course in Uley, Gloucestershire.

This course provides specialist training in Early Music, and in Recorder techniques which she hopes will advance her skills in playing the instrument.

Rebecca is described as “an extremely talented musician and teacher in her fields of expertise; Recorder, Piano, Violin, Flute and Singing”.

She was was runner up in NI Young Musician, and is lead soprano in the Ulster Youth Chamber Choir and soprano in Ulster Youth Choir.

Each year the Thomas Devlin Awards, managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, celebrate and support young local talent in the Arts and music.

In 2017, the awards focussed solely on music and seven young people are being recognised for their achievements and dedication to the arts.

Thomas’ parents Penny Holloway and Jim Devlin said: “Music and the arts form an important part of the lives of many young people and are often used by them as a means of expression.

“We, together with all those who have assisted the Thomas Devlin Fund, are proud to be able to support the development of talented young people in Northern Ireland by providing financial support to them.”

The Thomas Devlin Fund grantees will use their awards to study music throughout Europe.

Andrew McCracken Chief Executive of the Community Foundation said: “The Community Foundation is proud to manage the Thomas Devlin Fund on behalf of Thomas’ parents Penny and Jim.

“It is fantastic to see so many young people benefiting from these awards and we wish each of them every success with their studies in music.”