Hello and welcome to Harmonically Speaking, the podcast that meets high achievers from the field of music and gives you an insight into their lives.

I'm Macdara Ó Seireadáin, a clarinettist in the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and my guest today is internationally renowned Irish pianist Finghin Collins.

Born in Dublin, Finghin studied in the RIAM and the Geneva Conservatoire, and is a multiple competition winner, most notably winning the Clara Haskil Competition in 1999. As a soloist and chamber musician he performs worldwide, and alongside this busy performing career, he is artistic director of the New Ross Piano festival and Music for Galway, and is chair of the jury for both the Clara Haskil and Dublin international piano competitions. 

In early 2024, during a tour of Ireland with the Ficino Ensemble, where we were performing Penderecki’s magnificent sextet, we sat down to talk, and I began by asking what drew him to the piano, and when he decided to pursue a life in music.

He also talked about the importance of finding the right teacher, what he listens for when sitting on a competition jury, and how he would like to see mental training for musicians become more commonplace.

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