One of Ireland's most successful musicians, Finghin Collins was born in Dublin in 1977 and, following initial lessons with his sister Mary, studied piano at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with John O'Conor and at the Geneva Conservatoire with Dominique Merlet. His international career was launched by winning first prize at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland in 1999. He has performed in recital and with major orchestras throughout Europe and the United States, as well in the Far East and Australia. In October 2017, the National University of Ireland conferred on him an honorary Degree of Doctor of Music.

In 2017 he celebrated his 40th birthday with a solo recital at the National Concert Hall in Dublin as part of the Hall’s International Concert Season; other highlights included his debuts at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Zermatt Festival and return engagements with the RPO and in China. In 2018 Collins made two appearances at the Wigmore Hall in London, participated in the Jury of the Dublin International Piano Competition, and performed in Ireland, the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Cuba and Greece. In 2019 Finghin performs in the UK, Denmark, the USA, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey and undertakes an extensive Irish recital tour marking 20 years since his Clara Haskil Prize. 2020 will see many Beethoven performances to mark the composer’s 250th anniversary, and also the inaugural edition of Music for Galway’s new festival Cellissimo as part of Galway 2020.

Over the past decade Collins has developed a close relationship with Claves Records in Switzerland, recording many award-winning CDs of music by Schumann and Stanford. A Chopin recital CD was released in September 2017, a co-production between RTÉ lyric fm and Claves Records. A new recording of Mozart’s piano quartets will be released by Claves Records in late 2019.

Finghin Collins has been Artistic Director of Music for Galway since 2013 and is also the founding Artistic Director of the New Ross Piano Festival. He is also co-Artistic Director and founder of the International Master Course at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Programme

• Beethoven Sonatas
• Op. 10 no. 1 in C minor
• Op. 57 in F minor “Appassionata”
• Op. 90 in E minor
• Op. 111 in C minor

Tickets, priced €25, available from Eventbrite.

St Patrick's Hall, Delvin will present Take Off Your Cornflakes by Rose Henderson and Pat Nolan, on Saturday February 8th at 8pm. A SHOW IN A BAG production supported by Fishamble, the New Play Company, Irish Theatre Institute, and Fringe Festival. Directed by Liam Halligan with original music by Denis Clohessy, video imagery Kieran McBride

Tom and Trish have celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary but what happens when he wakes up with a strange woman beside him and she tells him she’s his wife? Trish has to make a choice, which she does, armed only with humour, music and love.

Admission €15 with proceeds to Mullingar Alzheimer's Day Care Centre. Booking eqnuiries to 044 966 4484 or call in to Delvin Post Office.