Michael O'Toole
Encyclopedia
Michael O'Toole is an Irish
guitarist
.
He studied for many years with John Feeley in the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and also spent two years studying with the renowned Cuban virtuoso Ricardo Iznaola in Denver, Colorado
. He has since established himself as one of Ireland's leading guitarists, giving many memorable recitals and becoming Artistic Director of both The Waltons International Guitar Festival and the "Chord" Ennis International Music Festival. O'Toole is also on the board of directors of the prestigious Kilkenny Arts Festival.
O'Toole has performed extensively throughout Ireland
, America
and the United Kingdom
, and has performed live several times on national radio and television, including a live broadcast of Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez on RTÉ lyric fm
with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
. His commitment to contemporary music and to the expansion of the guitar repertoire has led him to work with prominent Irish composers such as Eric Sweeney
, Jerome de Bromhead, David Fennessy and Ian Wilson
. He has also performed in ensemble with such groups as the Opera Theatre Company, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
, the Dublin Guitar Quartet
and RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
. O'Toole is also on the faculty of The Royal Irish Academy of Music
, the Music Department at Waterford Institute of Technology
, and also the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.
O'Toole plays a guitar specially made for him by acclaimed Irish luthier
Michael O'Leary.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
.
He studied for many years with John Feeley in the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and also spent two years studying with the renowned Cuban virtuoso Ricardo Iznaola in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. He has since established himself as one of Ireland's leading guitarists, giving many memorable recitals and becoming Artistic Director of both The Waltons International Guitar Festival and the "Chord" Ennis International Music Festival. O'Toole is also on the board of directors of the prestigious Kilkenny Arts Festival.
O'Toole has performed extensively throughout Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and has performed live several times on national radio and television, including a live broadcast of Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez on RTÉ lyric fm
RTÉ lyric fm
RTÉ lyric fm is an Irish classical music radio station, owned by the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station, which is based in Limerick, was launched in 1999 and is available on FM in Ireland, on satellite, on Sky Digital in Ireland and United Kingdom and via the...
with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to...
. His commitment to contemporary music and to the expansion of the guitar repertoire has led him to work with prominent Irish composers such as Eric Sweeney
Eric Sweeney
Eric Edwin Sweeney was an English footballer. His regular position was as a forward. He was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside. He played for Charlton Athletic and Manchester United.-External links:*...
, Jerome de Bromhead, David Fennessy and Ian Wilson
Ian Wilson
Ian Wilson may refer to:* Ian Wilson , Australian politician* Ian Wilson , Irish composer* Ian Wilson , English cinematographer...
. He has also performed in ensemble with such groups as the Opera Theatre Company, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to...
, the Dublin Guitar Quartet
Dublin Guitar Quartet
The Dublin Guitar Quartet is an Irish music group that specialises in the performance of contemporary classical music, particularly music associated with minimalist composers such as Philip Glass, Steve Reich and Arvo Pärt....
and RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is the concert music orchestra of Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
. O'Toole is also on the faculty of The Royal Irish Academy of Music
Royal Irish Academy of Music
The Royal Irish Academy of Music is a linked college of Dublin City University located in Dublin, Ireland.It was founded in 1848 by a group of music enthusiasts and moved to its present address in Westland Row in 1871. The following year it was granted the right to use the title "Royal"...
, the Music Department at Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford Institute of Technology is a state funded third-level educational institution situated in the city of Waterford, Ireland. The Institute has six Schools and 16 Departments....
, and also the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.
O'Toole plays a guitar specially made for him by acclaimed Irish luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
Michael O'Leary.
Reviews
- "...I was knocked out by his performances... he revealed a talent for telling stories with his hands and weaving meticulous trains of musical thought, delivered with a fair punch." Tim Panting, Classical Guitar Magazine.
- "In Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez the playing of soloist Michael O'Toole was fluent, shapely and always apt." Martin Adams, Irish Times.
- "O'Toole is a powerful player who gave great accounts of Giuliani's Grand Overture and Rodrigo's Invocacion y danza" Tim Panting, Classical Guitar Magazine.