Michael Dooley

Michael Dooley is a graduate of the Waterford Institute and of Trinity College , Dublin. He began his brass and woodwind studies with Tommy Joyce and continued under Martin Prynn and Professor J M Thome. Michael is a regular performer with the RTE Concert Orchestra and has played both the Mozart Bassoon Concerto and the Stamitz Double Concerto for Clarinet and Bassoon. In 2002 he gave the premiere of Tom Cullivan's Meditation for Bassoon and Orchestra with the Cork Symphony Orchestra conducted by Helen Sheehan. The following year at a concert in Taibdhearch na Gaillimhe he premiered the composer's First Sonata for Bassoon and Piano with Elena Gekker.

He is a founder of the Limerick Wind Octet and is also on the teaching staff of the Limerick Municipal School of Music. As well as conducting Galway Youth Orchestra Michael has conducted St. Patrick's Brass Band for a number of years.

Currently, Michael is performing with the Oirbsen Chamber Trio alongside Joanne Cater(flute) and Elena Gekker (piano)in association with local composer Tom Cullivan.

 

Paul Ezergailis

Paul Ezergailis was born in Australia . He has had a distinguished career in chamber music and has performed as 1st . violin, leader and soloist in the National Chamber Orchestras of Switzerland, Norway , Scotland and in the orchestra of St. Martin in the Fields. Since 1984 he has been co-leader of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. He has participated in Oslo Philharmonic recordings and has toured extensively with the orchestra. He appears regularly as guest leader and instructor in Australia and Scandinavia . Paul lives in Co. Galway with his wife Philomena and sons Dan and Philip.

He has conducted GYO Senior Orchestra for a number of years and has also conducted the South East Regional Youth Orchestra.

 

Joanne Cater

Joanne Cater graduated with honours from the Colchester Institute of Music in1996 where she studied under the direction of Duke Dudding. She worked in Warwickshire from 1996-2000 as a peripatetic woodwind teacher and was flautist in the Warwickshire Concert Orchestra. Joanne conducted the Warwickshire County Wind Band with which she toured extensively for two years.

Living in Galway since 2000 Joanne enjoys teaching her many and varied students and in 2004 was appointed honorary local representative of the Associated Boards of Music Examining Board. She also enjoys playing flute in musical shows in the region. Joanne joined Galway Youth Orchestra in 2004 as conductor of Junior Orchestra and the e Alouette Wind Band. Along with Michael Dooley and Elena Gekker Joanne forms the Oirbsen Chamber Trio.

 

Jazz Orchestra conductors/tutors

A founder member of the Black Magic Band John Fleming was its musical director from 1997- 2000. He is the musical director of the Patrician Brass Band and a well established teacher of brass in the Galway area.

Bertrand Huvé has a wealth of experience teaching and playing woodwind instruments here and in his native France . He was musical director of the Fougeres Big Band from 1998-2000.

 

Conductors  1982-2010

Maire NiDhuibhir, Anne Redmond, Helen Sheehan, Jennifer Kelly, Connie Fennell,  Claire Stimson, Claire Doody, Martin Hynes, Rosina Joyce, Joanne Cater,  Michael Dooley, Paul Ezergailis, Peter Berrill, JohnFleming, Bertrand Huvé, Rick Harris.