A talented Wodonga teenager has embarked on a trip of a lifetime to compete on the world stage, with financial assistance from Wodonga Council.
Sixteen-year-old Ailish Moran is in Ireland immersing herself in her Irish culture as she competes in the world championship for traditional Irish music, song, dance and language.
Ailish has been playing Irish music since she was just four years of age, starting with the tin whistle.
She will compete at the international level on an instrument called the concertina, which she has been learning to play for the past four years.
The Catholic College Wodonga student hopes to build on past success after placing third in the world championships in the category of newly composed tune.
Ailish was able to compete by sending an audition video to the Ireland music committee where she was selected to go the world championships and had a friend play as a proxy on her behalf.
Ailish’s mum, Anna, accepted her daughter’s Young Achievers’ Scheme award at the July council meeting.
The award recognises Ailish’s excellence in music and comes with financial support.
The funds will go towards Ailish honing her craft at a music camp being hosted at a school near Dublin.
Ailish is staying with a host family and will meet up with her dad, Joseph, during her time in Ireland that includes attending the exchange school for six weeks, with the potential to extend her stay.
“It’s a big trip that is broken into three parts – attending music festivals, competing in the world championship and attending music camp at a school,” Mr Moran said.
“She has been a few times to Ireland for music festivals, but this will be an opportunity for her to be around children of a similar age who are playing instruments at a similar standard.
“She is also looking forward to going to school and experiencing the culture.”
To learn more or to nominate a young achiever, visit Young Achiever Scheme.