Regarded as one of Ireland’s most promising musicians, international award winning violinist Patrick Rafter has toured Europe, Asia and America as Concert Violinist, Chamber and Orchestral musician, and currently studies under Maxim Vengerov and Oleg Kaskiv at the International Menuhin Music Academy (IMMA), Switzerland. Most recently, Patrick was awarded 1st prize at the International Valiant Violin Competition in Switzerland held in August, 2016. During his career, he has studied with and performed alongside names such as Maxim Vengerov, Schlomo Mintz, Barry Douglas, John O’Conor, Arvo Part, Semyon Bychkov, Marin Alsop, Sir Mark Elder and Gianedra Noseda.

Born in 1991 into a highly musical family in Kilkenny Ireland, Patrick studied under Fionnuala Hunt at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and subsequently with Mateja Marincovic at the Royal Academy of Music London. At 17, he was awarded the highest ever mark of 99% at Ireland’s most prestigious music festival – Dublin’s ‘Feis Ceoil’. Patrick has received a host of Ireland’s most prestigious awards including the RDS Music Bursary, National Concert Hall Young Musician of the Year, Clandeboye/Accenture Young Musician of the Year, Kilkenny Person of the Year(Music) amongst many others.

As a concertmaster, Patrick was principle violinist with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Royal Academy of Music Symphony and Concert Orchestra amongst others and regularly leads the International Menuhin Music Academy Soloists.

2016/2017 Season for Patrick includes performances in Ireland, UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Ukraine and South America and also solo appearances and debuts with RTE Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Mannheim Chamber Orchestra, IMMA Soloists, Dublin Orchestral Players amongst others.

Patrick plays on a Georges Chanot violin, kindly supported by the Irish Department of Arts and Heritage. He is also incredibly grateful to be tailored by ‘A hand tailored suit’, visit www.ahandtailoredsuit.ie.

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