Eva Kavanagh Named First Recipient of the Bríd Phelan Emerging Talent Award
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival has announced that soprano Eva Kavanagh is the first-ever recipient of the Bríd Phelan Emerging Talent Award, supported by Kildare Village. The €6,000 bursary was presented after a special performance at Kildare Village, held to celebrate one month to go until the 2025 festival, which takes place from 27 May to 2 June.
This new award, to be presented annually from 2025 to 2029, forms part of BVOF’s ongoing commitment to nurturing exceptional Irish operatic talent. It honours the legacy of Bríd Phelan and recognises promising young artists on the cusp of exciting careers. Winners are selected by Dieter Kaegi, Artistic Director and C-Founder of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.
The inaugural award presentation was marked by a performance from Eva Kavanagh at Kildare Village, together with Conor Prendeville, and Ella Nagy. The Bríd Phelan Emerging Talent Award celebrates and supports outstanding young Irish artists at the beginning of their professional careers.
Business Director at Kildare Village, Victor Biffi Rosano, says: “Kildare Village is honoured to partner with Blackwater Valley Opera Festival over the past eight years and this is a true celebration of the arts and emerging talent which over the years has grown into the most wonderful partnership.”
As the official Fashion Retail Sponsor, Kildare Village is a valued partner of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, united by a shared dedication to artistic excellence and cultural enrichment.
Their continued support plays a vital role in the festival’s growth and success, helping to ensure that Irish musical talent is celebrated and sustained for future generations. The addition of the Bríd Phelan Emerging Talent Award to this partnership further deepens Kildare Village’s contribution to the arts, highlighting their investment in the next generation of Irish performers.
Eva Kavanagh, a soprano from County Carlow, is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in Dublin, studying under Kathleen Tynan and Dearbhla Collins. Renowned for her versatile talent, she has already performed at prestigious venues across Ireland and has earned multiple accolades for her outstanding vocal ability. In 2024, Eva achieved significant success, including multiple awards at the Feis Ceoil, the ‘Canto al Serchio’ Prize at the Birr Festival of Music, and the John McCormack Bursary. In January 2025, she performed the role of Rosina in Haydn’s La vera costanza, and in February she participated in the Winterlied Academie Programme in Leipzig.
Eva will perform as part of the 2025 Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, and will also act as a festival ambassador alongside fellow emerging artists. The bursary will support her continued studies and professional development, helping to advance her blossoming career as one of Ireland’s most promising young sopranos. She said, “I’m thrilled to be the first recipient of this incredible new bursary. Thanks to the generous donor and to Kildare Village for funding the Brid Phelan Emerging Talent award, and to the ongoing support of Dieter Kaegi and all at Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, I now have the opportunity to travel for auditions and professional training, attend summer schools and masterclasses, and perform at this year’s festival – not once, but three times. I’m also deeply grateful to my family, friends, and my tutors at the Royal Irish Academy of Music for all of their support. This opportunity is a turning point in my development and will have a lasting impact on my future career.”
At the heart of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s mission is a commitment to providing a platform for emerging artists and supporting the new musical talent of the future. The Bríd Phelan Emerging Talent Award joins a suite of bursary programmes offered by the festival, serving as vital springboards for Irish musicians at key stages of their development.
The 2025 festival programme features over 100 performers across 23 events at 12 venues, including two opera productions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten at Lismore Castle and Dido and
Aeneas by Henry Purcell at St Carthage’s Cathedral. Now in its 15th year, Ireland’s Summer Opera Festival combines world-class opera, innovative productions, bespoke dining experiences, and accessible ticket pricing to welcome new and returning audiences alike.
Tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream are now almost fully sold out, with limited availability remaining for Dido and Aeneas, two world-class concert performances at Dromore Yard, and a series of recitals over the bank holiday weekend in Lismore, County Waterford.
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival is supported by grants from the Arts Council of Ireland, Waterford City & County Council, and Waterford Leader. The festival’s lead sponsors are AIB, Kildare Village, Marsh, and the John Pollard Foundation.
