Argentinean songwriter wins Tipperary Song of Peace Final
Ariel Benitez receiving his Tipperary Crystal Award and cheque for €1,500. Photograph: (left to right) Rina Roche, Mary Swords, Martin Quinn, Ariel Benitez, Mary Alice O'Connor and Joe Quinn.
Argentinean singer/songwriter, Ariel Benitez won the 2009 Tipperary International Song of Peace Final on Saturday May 2nd in the Excel Theatre in Tipperary Town.
Ariel performed his own composition titled “La Canción de la Hermandad” (The Song of the Brotherhood) and scored 9 marks from each of the three Judges to claim the top prize of €1,500 and Tipperary Crystal Award.
In second place was Ciarán Brennan from Carlow with his entry titled “Yes We Can” and third was the U.K. entry “In the News” composed and performed by Maxine Gallagher.
10 finalists were chosen from hundreds of entries and they performed ‘live’ in a very entertaining show on Saturday night which also featured the Portlaoise Gospel Choir as guest artists.
Ariel has been involved with popular music since his childhood as in his family it was common practice to sing and to play guitar. He studied Guitar and Composition Degrees at the National University of Cuyo and during his career he has won several prizes including The Soloist Revelation in "Mendoza Festival" in 1988 and The "Americanto Award" in 2005. He received "The Golden Record" in May 2007 during the 27th International Latin American Song Contest in the U.S.A. In 2008 he represented Argentina in the 49th International Song Festival of Viña del Mar, Chile; and in The Víctor Jara´s Popular Singing of Estocolm, in Sweden.
Ariel was a hugely popular winner of the Tipperary Song of Peace and received a standing ovation when the result was declared.
He was presented with the Tipperary Crystal Award by Martin Quinn, while Joe Quinn handed him over a cheque for €1,500.
It certainly was a long long way to Tipperary for this Argentinean singer but this was one trip that definitely turned out to be well worthwhile.
