Edward opens up season with Concert Hall sell-out
DROGHEDA musician Edward Holly featured as pianist with composer Shaun Davey for the opening sell-out concert of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra’s 2019-2020 season at the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
The performance was conducted by the acclaimed David Brophy and broadcast live on Lyric FM.
There were numerous standing ovations for wonderful performances of ‘Arrival of the Flame’ and ‘May We Never Have to Say Goodbye’. The concert also featured music dedicated to the late Liam O’ Flynn which was performed by the superb Uilleann Piper Mark Redmond.
Edward was delighted to receive the call from Shaun Davey’s manager requesting his piano-playing skills for the two concerts. The first was to a sold-out St. Peter’s Church of Ireland, Drogheda as part of the recent Fleadh. Rita Connolly, who is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest singers, performed songs such as ‘Ripples in the Rockpools’ and ‘ The Parting Glass’ to a highly appreciative audience.
Shaun Davey is in the top tier of Ireland’s composers and has featured on an incredible twelve albums. His music was performed to over 80,000 people in Croke Park at the opening ceremony of The Special Olympics World Games in 2003. Televised worldwide, this included performances with U2 and the largest Riverdance troupe ever assembled. The Novello Award-winning composer wrote the theme music for the hit TV series, ‘Ballykissangel’, the film ‘Waking Ned’ and his setting of St. Patrick’s prayer ‘ The Deer’s Cry’ was performed at the inauguration of President Michael D. Higgins.
Edward began his piano studies with Jim Walsh and Ann Crilly in Fair Street, Drogheda and went on to lecture in music at Trinity College, Dublin. He has been a concerto soloist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and has accompanied internationally acclaimed singers Bryn Terfel and Celine Byrne. Edward will play piano with the Orchestra of Ireland for the Irish Tour of ‘Home Alone’ at the end of November.