This article is from page 2 of the 2011-11-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
NORTH Clare vocalist Naomi O’Connell is set to be launched as the world’s latest young opera superstar in the coming months after winning the prestigious CAG Victor Elmaleh competition at the Juilliard performing art school in New York.
Naomi, who comes from Ballyvaughan, has been studying at the world-famous school for the past three years. The CAG Victor Elmaleh competition is open to all students at Juilliard and Naomi was the only vocalist to make it into the grand final.
The CAG Victor Elmaleh is recog- nised as the most prestigious competition for student artists in America and one the highest accolades that any young performing artist can receive.
The prize for winning the competition includes a record deal with Naxos Recording and a management contract with the Concert Artists Guild as well as the chance to perform with a number of leading orchestras at a concert series and a number of international festivals.
Naomi, who is a mezzo-soprano, began her music career with north Clare people’s choir, the Lismorahaun Singers, when she was just 13 years old. Under the guidance of choir founder Archie Simpson, she released her first album, ‘Christmas with Naomi’, at the age of just 16.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Naomi. Juilliard is such a prestigious school and to win this competition really marks her out as the crème de la crème. It is incredible to think that a girl from Ballyvaughan could have achieved all of this,” Archie told The Clare People