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Clareman and concertina maestro Noel Hill heads the list of recipients of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2011 (Traditional Music Awards) announced at a media reception in the Galway City Museum this evening. Born and reared in Caherea in west Clare but now living in the Connemara Gaeltacht, Noel is widely regarded as one of the major figures in Irish music whose concerts and recordings have developed the concertina to a new level and broadened its appeal to a new audience.

This year’s Gradam recipients range over a wide spectrum of talents. Those honoured in the various categories include a legendary Leitrim fiddler, a world-renowned pianist and academic authority, an exciting young piper from the eastern shores of Galway bay, a Grammy-nominated Chicago-born composer and performer and a multi-talented West Kerry singer and flute-player best known for her playing with the world-renowned traditional groups Danú. The full list of TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2011 recipients is:

· Gradam Ceoil TG4 – Noel Hill
· Ceoltóir Óg TG4 (Young Musician) – Pádraic Keane
· Gradam Saoil TG4 (Hall of Fame) – Ben Lennon
· Cumadóir TG4 (Composer) – Liz Carroll
· Amhránaí TG4 (Singer) – Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
· Gradam na gCeoltóirí TG4 (Musicians’ Award) – Micheál Ó Súilleabháin

(Biographies of this year’s Gradam Ceoil recipients are available on www.tg4.ie/gradam).
An independent panel of adjudicators selects recipients of the TG4 Gradam Ceoil each year. Recipients are presented with a specially-commissioned piece by sculptor John Coll as well as a cheque. This year’s awards will be presented at the Gradam Ceoil Concert in the prestigious Wexford Opera House on Saturday 2nd April. Recipients will be joined by a host of special guests in a concert hosted by Aoife Ní Thuairisg that will be broadcast on TG4 on Easter Sunday 24th April at 9.30pm.
TG4 Director General Pól Ó Gallchóir says that the Gradam Ceoil honours major figures in Irish traditional music during their lifetime. “We are privileged to organize and sponsor this recognition for these extraordinary and talented artists who instill such pride to our culture and adorn our lives with their music,” he said.

Tickets for the Gradam Ceoil concert can be obtained by telephone from 053 9122144 or on www.wexfordoperahouse.com