Concert pianist Fergal Warren waited in the theatre at the Conservatory of Music, in DIT Rathmines, about to play Prokofiev and Barber.
There was palpable excitement at the first recital in a series of lunchtime concerts. A new Boston Boudoir grand piano, donated to the college by John Holland and Henry Gillanders, of Pianos Plus, was to be unveiled specially for the occasion. In the foyer, Flutation, a group of flautists under the direction of their teacher, William Halpin, got guests in the mood with the the music of George M. Cohan.
Peter Sweeney, organist and organiser of the series, welcomed the DIT's new president, Prof Brian Norton, who took up his post in September.
The concerts will give music students and graduates at the college "an opportunity to perform under the pressures of a live performance. We want to recreate the atmosphere of a recital performance. We can guarantee audiences a delightful interlude in their busy day, listening to some of Ireland's exceptional young musicians . . . It's like running something professional in microcosmic form," Sweeney said.
His partner, Helen Roycroft, head of music at King's Hospital, Palmerstown, eagerly awaited the performance.
Conductor Proinnsias Ó Duinn arrived to hear the young pianist play, as did composer John Buckley.
"It's a fiendishly difficult programme, but he was absolutely superb," said tenor and teacher at the college, Emmanuel Lawler, after the recital. As well-wishers came to congratulate the young Dubliner, Warren smiled and said he felt "a bit drained but relieved".
The concerts will also be broadcast by Lyric FM over the coming weeks. There will be a free lunchtime concert, starting at 1.10 p.m. and finishing at 1.50 p.m. at the conservatory every Wednesday until May next year.