Wilson’s student was finalist in awards event

A sixth-year student at Wilson’s Hospital School was a finalist at the 2026 TopSec Frank Maher Classical Music Awards, Ireland’s largest classical music competition for secondary schools.

Aran Cahalan (right), who plays the flute, was one of six finalists at the competition on October 23 in the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin, Marty Whelan was MC. Aran performed two pieces – Image by composer Eugene Bozza and Sonata in A Major by composer César Francke.

Violinist Iona Wu from Wesley College Dublin won the €5,000 top prize, trombonist Yannick Daly Trillaud from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Cork WAS second, and violinist Kitty Sabry from Seamount College in Galway was third.

The Awards were created in 2001 by Top Security chairman Emmet O’Rafferty to honour the memory of his late teacher, Fr Frank Maher, who taught music at Castleknock College in Dublin.