Accompanist

Cormuin Ó Raghallaigh

Cormuin Ó Raghallaigh comes from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. His initial piano lessons began at the age of five with his mother Áine and Darina Gibson. Upon winning a scholarship to St. Finian’s College, Mullingar, he continued his studies with Pádhraic Ó Cuinneagáin and also studied organ with Shane Brennan. Cormuin holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from NUI Maynooth where he also obtained a B.A. in English. His teacher during this time was Leonora Carney and he also continued his organ studies with John O’Keeffe.

In 1995 Cormuin won the John Benson memorial Cup for Bach playing in the Dublin senior Feis Ceoil. He also won the Henry Loretto Cup at the Sligo Feis Ceoil in 1998. A former organ scholar of NUI Maynooth, Cormuin has been resident organist at Foxrock Parish Church since 2001, official accompanist to Bray Choral Society since 2005 and to Wicklow Choral Society since 2011. He has performed with Bray Choral Society in Salzburg, Vienna and Brussels. He taught piano in Newpark Music Centre from 2005-2014 and in February 2012 was appointed official accompanist to the music department at NUI Maynooth where he worked until June 2015. He has worked with many of Ireland’s leading soloists.

Having made his solo debut in the John Field room of  the National Concert Hall in 2009, other performances include a solo lunchtinme Concert at the same venue in July 2011 as well as a recital in the Pavilion theatre, Dún Laoghaire. He has also played at The Íontas Centre, Castleblayney, Annaverna House and Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. During his time in Maynooth he performed at several final-year recitals with the degree and master’s students. In early July 2015 Cormuin gave an organ recital in his home town of Carrickmacross (the second such recital he has given there) and on July 26th he gave a debut recital in the renowned annual series in St. Michael’s Church, Dun Laoghaire under the guidance of Peter Sweeney.  The concert consisted of music by Bach, Buxtehude and Sweelinck. In the spring of 2016 he joined forces (as pianist) with violinist Miriam Cahill for a highly successful ‘Spring Serenade’ series in the Dominican Convent, Wicklow Town and Monkstown Parish Church. He was official accompanist in The Iontas Centre for a concert in April 2016 titled ‘Sounds of our Land’. This event celebrated the musical and cultural heritage of 1916 and the century thereafter.