IAYO Youth Sub-Committee

The IAYO Youth Sub-Committee is an official sub-committee appointed by the IAYO board.

The IAYO Youth Sub-Committee is made up of young people aged 16 to 24 years of age from all over Ireland. The Youth Sub-Committees’ specific job is to make sure that when IAYO does its work, younger people’s views, experiences, and opinions are listened to and acted on appropriately. The committee is supported by a youth worker, board members, and other IAYO staff to do this.

How can you get involved?

In the coming weeks, there will be opportunities for new members to join the committee. Keep an eye on our social media channels, sign up for our Newsnotes e-newsletter, and/or contact Rachel, IAYO’s Youth Participation Officer, to find out more. You can contact Rachel at rachel@iayo.ie or 089 488 2626 for more information about joining the Sub-Committee or if you have any other questions.

Please click here to read more about what the Youth Sub-Committee does.

Below you can learn more about the current Youth Sub-Committee members.

Meet the IAYO Youth Sub-Committee:

Gabriela Kapusta, age 16, Carlow

Gabriela is a double bass, violin, and viola player. She currently plays with the Carlow Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Gabriela has previously played with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland.

Gabriela has both played at the IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras and attended as an audience member. In 2024, she volunteered at the festival before taking the stage with her orchestra. Alongside her interest in music, Gabriela also likes to spend time knitting, coding, and editing videos. She is also involved in playing volleyball, which includes coaching and refereeing roles. Gabriela joined the IAYO Youth Committee after attending the IAYO Youth Voice Consultation at the RIAM in October 2023.

Giovana Alice de Melo Brito, 21, Galway

Giovana Alice is a violin player. She has played with the Athenry Youth Orchestra. She currently works with Athenry Music School in their day-to-day operations.

Giovana has played at the IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras. She also worked at the festival in a youth leadership role backstage for two years running. Giovanna helped in the running of the IAYO Chamber Music Weekend in 2023. When Giovana is not busy playing, working, and planning, she enjoys baking (and then eating) sweet treats! She also spends time reading and listening to Brazilian music.

Giovana has an interest in how we can create safe and accessible spaces for immigrants, as well as those who are neurodivergent.  Also, her dog George is always accompanying her to online meetings.

Adam Antal, 17, Dublin

Adam is a trumpet and viola player. He plays with the Presto Project, which is based in St Ultan’s National School in Cherry Orchard. Adam started with the Presto Project while in primary school and has continued his dedication to the project as he moved on to 2nd level education. Adam has played in the IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras and appeared in several promotional materials used by IAYO for the festival.

Adam is passionate about gym, music, basketball, and learning new things to be the best version of himself. He believes that hobbies are really important to young people and young musicians, as they can help with all the stress we all deal with every day. Adam’s favourite ice cream is pistachio.

Christopher Furlong, 18, Cork

Christopher Furlong is a composer and pianist of Irish-Trinidadian descent. He was born in 2006 and has lived in Cork his whole life. He has been playing piano since he was 11 and has been studying piano with Michael Joyce and composition with Criostóir Ó Loingsigh at the MTU Cork School of Music for most of his piano journey.
 
In December 2022, Christopher performed with his school’s Irish traditional music group for An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, to celebrate the reopening of Mardyke House, Cork City. The same month, he won the CSM Junior Concerto Competition (across all instruments), a prize that included a performance of the first movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the CSM Symphony Orchestra last November.
 
In early 2023, Christopher won several first prizes, including in the Senior Piano Concerto Competition and Prize Winners Perpetual Piano Competition at Feis Maitiu in Cork and in the International Junior Piano Concerto Competition at the Feis Ceoil in Dublin. In May, he premiered his solo piano composition ‘Elevation Variations’ in the Curtis Auditorium at CSM.

As an orchestral pianist, Christopher toured with the Cork Youth Orchestra last July, performing in Cork and in Florence, Italy. He has also played piano and celeste with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and piano and percussion with the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble.

Christopher recently completed his Grade 8 piano exam with distinction and plans to study music composition when he graduates from secondary school this year.

Ekenenna Chukwuewuzie, Dublin, 20

Ekenenna Chukwuewuzie has been deeply involved in music from a young age, playing the violin for over ten years and achieving Grade 7 in violin performance and Grade 5 in theory from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and ABRSM, respectively. She has been a member of the Dublin Youth Orchestra Symphony and performed with the Trio String Musical Ensemble at prestigious events, including an international concert in Spain.

As a violin teacher for the St Agnes Music Project, she shared her passion for music with younger students. Additionally, she has performed at the National Concert Hall and events like the Presidential Gaisce Gold Awards and the Irish Youth Foundation Excellence in Sports Awards Ceremony. Her musical education also includes learning drumming at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute Dublin and music production at the Digital Hub. Currently, she is studying at Trinity College Dublin, furthering her academic and musical pursuits.

Alongside her musical talents, Ekenenna is an avid, award-winning orator, having achieved national recognition in various debating and public speaking competitions. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the ukulele and has a keen interest in film.

Darcy Owens, 17, Dublin

Darcy is a viola player from Dublin. Introduced to the violin through the music programme in St Ultan’s Primary School, Darcy soon developed an interest in viola. His talent on viola was noticed by the tutors and staff, and Darcy continued his study of his viola through both primary and secondary school.

Darcy has performed at many music events, including community music events, interschool choirs, and the 2023 IAYO Festival of Youth Orchestras with the Presto Players. Darcy returned to the National Concert Hall for the 2024 Festival as an IAYO Sub-Committee member.

Darcy has an interest in promoting the playing of instruments in any genre to young people; in particular, he would like young people to experience the classical side of music.

Darcy has been a keen swimmer and is now a member of the Tallaght Athletics Club, where he focuses on 100-meter sprints. He has an interest in art and videography. Having completed his Leaving Certificate, Darcy is currently exploring the area of game design.

Emma Picovici, 17, Carlow