A Month of Milestones: YAM Award, Nominations and More
Cork’s hip-hop collective Kabin Crew and Irish National Opera (INO) have won the Young Audiences Music (YAM) Award in the Best Participatory Project category for The Sound of the Northside.
The award was presented at a ceremony in Viljandi, Estonia, with nominees from fifteen countries in attendance. This international recognition highlights the groundbreaking collaboration between Kabin Crew and Irish National Opera, which brought together hip-hop, theatre and orchestral performance in a unique production.
Participating rapper and poet Luke Martin says “I still can’t believe that The Sound of the Northside won this award. It was such a rewarding experience to work with Irish National Opera and OneTwoOneTwo in what became my favourite gig with the Kabin so far. To see it get recognised on an international level like this warms my heart and that probably goes for all the other participants as well.”
Irish National Opera’s Artistic Director Fergus Sheil adds “We are genuinely thrilled for Kabin Crew that our collaboration has been recognised by the Young Audiences Music Awards. Kabin Crew’s full length staged show with the Irish National Opera orchestra at the Everyman Theatre Cork was an outstanding achievement for all the young performers involved. The last few weeks have seen a whirlwind of accolades for Irish National Opera and our partners. The YAM award was followed the next day by a nomination for the International Opera Awards in the World Premiere category for INO’s new production of MARS by Jennifer Walshe and Mark O’Connell.
Earlier in September the company was also awarded the CRBE Creativity in the Workplace Award together with Spencer Lennox at the Business to Arts Awards – recognising INO’s Future Leaders Network – which brings together young professionals from diverse professional areas through opera. Finally, our newly released recording of two operas by Emma O’Halloran and Mark O’Halloran – Trade and Mary Motorhead – secured a coveted 5-star review in October’s BBC Music Magazine. Lots to celebrate this month at Irish National Opera.”
The Sound of the Northside was developed with INO to present Kabin Crew’s music with added theatrical and orchestral elements. The hour-long show, directed by OneTwoOneTwo (Maud Lee and Zoe Ní Riordáin), featured the Kabin Crew performing with the INO Orchestra conducted by Medb Brereton Hurley, with arrangements by Áine Delany. It premiered at Cork’s Everyman Theatre in July 2024, supported by the Arts Council’s Young Ensemble Scheme. The Young Audiences Music Awards (YAMawards) celebrate creativity and innovation in musical productions for young audiences worldwide, spanning everything from solo acts to full orchestras.
INO’s collaboration with Spencer Lennox has reimagined professional networking by moving away from traditional corporate settings and into an inclusive arts environment. The Future Leaders Network has built a cross-industry community of nearly 200 young professionals in fields ranging from law and finance to technology, life sciences, and fashion — all connected through their openness, creativity and deep motivation to innovate and embrace new experiences.
Aoife Daly, INO’s Director of Development says “We are thrilled that our wonderful partnership with Spencer Lennox has been acknowledged by the Business to Arts Awards Jury. As this incredible network of inspiring young professionals continues to grow, we look forward to working with industry leaders across multiple sectors to create a lasting framework for corporate engagement with the arts and culture sector. We are incredibly grateful to Bryan Durkan for his belief in our work and for coming on this journey with us.”
These achievements mark a milestone month for both Irish National Opera and its collaborators, reflecting the power of partnership, innovation and artistic ambition. Future INO plans for this year include Puccini’s Madama Butterfly starring internationally renowned Irish soprano Celine Byrne in Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and a national tour of Smetana’s The Bartered Bride. In 2026 the company will present a national tour of Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen, Dvořák’s Rusalka in Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Bellini’s Norma in Dublin, Wexford and Cork plus a gala concert with international stars Rolando Villazon and Paula Murrihy in The Gaiety Theatre.