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Our Performers May 2024
Patrick Rafter
Violinist and Conductor
Regarded as one of Ireland’s most outstanding musicians, international award-winning violinist and conductor Patrick Rafter has toured Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia as a soloist, director, conductor, and recitalist. Internationally, Patrick has been the grand prize winner of multiple competitions including the Valiant Violin Competition, Switzerland 2016, the London Performing Arts Competition 2017, and the Dublin Feis Ceoil Conducting Competition 2022.
During his career, Patrick has studied with and performed alongside some of the most outstanding performers in the world today, including Maxim Vengerov, Schlomo Mintz, Barry Douglas, and John O'Conor. He has also worked with some of the world's most prominent composers today, such as Arvo Part, and performed with some of the 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 leading 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.
Michael McHale
Pianist
Belfast-born Michael McHale has established himself as one of Ireland’s leading pianists and has developed a busy international career as a solo recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician.
He has performed as a soloist with the Minnesota, Hallé, Moscow Symphony and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, City of London Sinfonia, London Mozart Players and all five of the major Irish orchestras, and performed at the Tanglewood and Tokyo Spring Festivals, Wigmore Hall, London, Berlin Konzerthaus, Lincoln Center, New York, Symphony Hall, Boston and Pesti Vigadó in Budapest. Michael collaborates regularly with Sir James Galway, Michael Collins, Patricia Rozario, Dame Felicity Lott and Camerata Pacifica. www.michaelmchale.com
Claire O' Donnell
Harpist
Claire O’Donnell is one of Ireland's foremost harpists. She performs regularly as principle harpist with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and the BBC Ulster Orchestra and is the only harpist of her generation in Ireland to be invited to perform as principal harpist with the European Union Youth Orchestra under the baton of Vladamir Ashkanazy, a position she held for 4 consecutive years.
A highly sought after soloist and recording artist, Claire has recorded with The National Symphony Orchestra for the international classical Naxos Label and as a soloist for the Irish Traditional Music archives Bunting Collection. She has performed for such distinguished guests as the former president of Ireland Mary Mac Aleese, at the World Harp Congress, and with musical legends the Horslips, Wolf Tones, Liam O’Flynn, Dame Evelyn Glennie and Katherine Jenkins.
Megan Ruby Walsh
Soprano
Following studies at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London, Megan has embarked on a career that has taken throughout the world with solo performances in some of the most acclaimed concert halls including Carnegie Hall. Megan toured with the Grammy Nominated group CELTIC WOMAN. She has recorded the Album "Ancient Lands" and the worldwide broadcast special at Johnstown Castle in Ireland as a soloist. Megan's performances include Red Rocks Amphitheatre to over 9,000 people, London Palladium, and performing in 49 of the States of America as well as in South America, Alaska, Canada, Europe and the UK. More recently, Megan performed in Ireland on the "Candlelight Concerts" with world renowned Frank McNamara, arranger, conductor, composer, and pianist, as well as performing with the Celtic World Forum, sharing the stage with the cream of Ireland's traditional music artists throughout recent years.
Megan toured and performed as a soloist with the Cross Border Orchestra of Carnegie Hall, as well as having performed at the Opening ceremony for the Irish Centennial Commemoration of 1916 Easter Rising.
Billy O' Brien
Pianist
Billy O’Brien enjoys a diverse career as solo pianist, chamber musician and teacher. He has appeared as concerto soloist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Hibernian Orchestra, UCD Symphony Orchestra, RIAM Symphony Orchestra, Wexford Sinfonia and Trinity Orchestra in concertos by Chopin, Ravel, Grieg, Gershwin and Beethoven. He has given solo recitals throughout Ireland in venues such as the Field Room, National Concert Hall, the National Gallery of Ireland, the Hugh Lane Gallery, as well as in Spain, France, Finland and the UK. He has appeared in concert series and festivals such as the New Ross Piano Festival, New Music Dublin, Music for Wexford, and the Crawford Gallery, among others.
