Patrick Rafter

Biography

Patrick Rafter is recognised and celebrated as one of Ireland’s foremost classical musicians, acclaimed for his mastery of the violin and extraordinary musicianship. Rafter has taken to the stage as a soloist, director, conductor, and recitalist across Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia. Garnering over a hundred prestigious awards, including the National Concert Hall Young Musician of the Year (Ireland), Clandeboye Festival Young Musician of the Year (UK), Valiant Violin Competition (Switzerland), London Performing Arts Competition (2017), RDS Music Bursary (Ireland), Dublin Feis Ceoil Conducting Competition (2022), and the Royal Academy of Music Sir Curtis Price Award (UK), Patrick has firmly established himself as one of Ireland’s leading classical musicians.

Patrick has collaborated with the foremost masters in today’s musical landscape, sharing the stage as a soloist with iconic performers such as Maxim Vengerov, Schlomo Mintz, Barry Douglas, and John O’Conor. Patrick has worked with many leading composers including Arvo Pärt and has also performed under the baton of leading conductors including Semyon Bychkov, Marin Alsop, Sir Mark Elder, and Gianandrea Noseda.

As a violinist, Patrick has performed as a soloist with many of the world’s notable orchestras and ensembles including Prague Philharmonia, Mannheim Soloists, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, RTE Concert Orchestra, Kyiv Soloists, and Camerata Ireland. He has performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls such as the National Concert Hall Ireland, Royal Albert Hall London, Berlin Konzerthaus, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and Seoul Arts Centre.

In 2023, Patrick became founder of the Marble City Music Festival (www.marblecitymusicfestival.com) in Kilkenny, Ireland. As Artistic Director, his mission is to curate an unparalleled classical music experience in his home city, showcasing world-class performers amidst an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality at each concert. Patrick boasts a longstanding collaboration with esteemed Irish pianist, Fiachra Garvey, culminating in the highly anticipated release of their inaugural recording released in December 2024 presented under the prestigious Rubicon Classics label in London.

A protege of the legendary violinist, Maxim Vengerov, Patrick was born into a musical family in Kilkenny, Ireland. His father, Paddy, is a tenor and his mother, Maura, is a pianist. His rise as a prodigious talent was swiftly acknowledged, earning him a prestigious full scholarship to the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where he studied under Eyal Kless and Fionnuala Hunt. Patrick continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, graduating summa cum laude and amassing multiple awards. He was a student of Mateja Marinkovic. Following a performance for Maxim Vengerov, Patrick was personally invited by Vengerov to study at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland until he graduated in 2019.

In 2020, Patrick used the COVID-19 pandemic to turn to conducting and commenced studies with renowned conductor, Alice Farnham. He continued studies and masterclasses with many leading Irish conductors including Ciaran Crilly, David Brophy, and Gavin Maloney. In 2021, Patrick was awarded a Conducting Fellowship with the UCD Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Choir. In 2022, he conducted the RTE Concert Orchestra and was awarded 1st prize in the Dublin Feis Ceoil National Conducting Competition.

As a choral conductor, Patrick has worked with many of Ireland’s leading choirs including the Chamber Choir Ireland and UCD Philharmonic Choir. He is the Principal Conductor of The Kilkenny Choir – a 110-person SATB Choir. He was formerly associate conductor of the UCD Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Choir 2021 – 2022 and served as conductor of Carlow Voices from 2020 to 2023. Patrick studied and has participated in choral conducting masterclasses with Zoltan Pad, Amy Bebbington, Roland Börger, and Amy Ryan.

Patrick performs on a Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin, made in Paris in 1842 and a 1925 Eugene Sartory bow, generously sponsored by the Music Network Capital Scheme and a private anonymous sponsor from Switzerland.

Follow Patrick on Instagram and Facebook or visit www.patrickrafter.com for more information and news. To follow his festival in Ireland, visit www.marblecitymusicfestival.com