Harmonically Speaking

About Harmonically Speaking

Harmonically Speaking is the podcast that meets high achievers from the field of music and gives listeners an insight into their lives. Hosted by clarinettist Macdara Ó Seireadáin each episode explores what sparked their passion, their career to date and their future plans, as well as challenges and setbacks they have faced along the way. With a wide range of guests from orchestral musicians and soloists, to conductors, administrators, instrument makers and more, this podcast aims to educate and inspire fellow musicians, aficionados and anyone who is curious about what a life in music really entails. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Macdara Ó Seireadáin

Category

arts · music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 May 2024

Latest episode

25 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Noel Burke

   My guest today is the Irish bow maker, or achetier, Noel Burke. Born in England to Irish parents, he grew up steeped in Irish traditional music, and upon leaving school studyied woodwind instrument making. However, it was a trip to Paris and a chance encounter that drew him to bow making. He apprenticed under Charles Espey, and Stéphane Thomachot, before setting out on his own path and eventually establishing his workshop in Ireland. A winner of eight gold medals at international bow making competitions, he now serves on the jury, and is passing on his knowledge to the next generation by taking on his own apprentices. Curious to find out more about Noel and his journey, the art of French bow making, and the challenges facing it, in early 2026, I visited Noel in his workshop in Carlow, where I began by asking what his first introduction to music was… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   16 Apr 2026

   John Gilhooly

   My guest today is artistic director of the Wigmore Hall, John Gilhooly. Hailing from Castleconnell in Limerick in Ireland, he studied history and political science in University College Dublin, alongside singing lessons with the legendary Dr Veronica Dunne. Following his university studies, he transitioned into Arts Administration, with stints at the Harrogate and Excel centres, before joining Wigmore Hall as executive director in 2000, and then taking up the post of artistic director five years later, aged just 32. Under his leadership Wigmore Hall has increased its public performances, expanded its audiences and repertoire, and has numerous learning and participation programmes. John has been awarded both an OBE And CBE for his services to music, the star of Italy, German order of merit and Austrian cross on honours among others, and in September 2025 the Spectator Newspaper dubbed him “The man who can save classical music”. Curious to find out more about his journey and transition into arts administration, what running a world famous concert hall entails, and what he sees as the challenges facing classical music today, I say down with John at his office at 21 Wellbeck Way, where I began by asking about his first experiences with classical music and their influence on him... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   27 Nov 2025

   Giulio Biddau

   My guest today is Head of Keyboard and piano professor at Cagliari Conservatoire, Giulio Biddau. Born in Cagliari, Sardinia, he studied there, in Paris, Rome, and Berlin and is a prize winner at numerous international competitions, including Aix-en-Provence, Valencia, Terni, and Tbilisi and performs all over the world. Most recently he has been pursuing a doctorate in musicology in Zurich and Graz, focusing on Domenico Scarlatti, and the historically informed performance of his works. This research has led to a recent cd entitled “Scarlatti to Scarlatti” where he recorded the same sonatas from two different editions - comparing and contrasting the Hans von Bulow edition of 1864 and the later, critical 1978 version of Emilio Fadini. Always curious to delve into the world of music research and historically informed practice, and wishing to learn more about Domenico Scarlatti, in July 2025 whilst at the Klaipeda Piano Masters academy in Lithuania, I sat down with Giulio, where I began by asking how he started playing piano…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   25 Sept 2025

   Caroline Staunton

   My guest today is opera director Caroline Staunton. Growing up in Dublin, her path to the Staatsoper in Berlin was an unusual one, first studying English and Philosophy in UCD, followed by a masters there in Drama studies. Whilst teaching English in Gonzaga College, and directing theatre productions, the allure of opera became ever stronger, leading her to take a year out and intern in Berlin and Salzburg, before landing a job in Theater Freiburg, and then at the Staatsoper in Berlin Eager to know more about her journey, what the day to day life of an opera director is like, and the important role opera and the arts play in challenging outdated attitudes, I sat down with Caroline where I began by asking what first drew her to classical music and opera.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   31 Aug 2025

   Frank Corcoran

   My guest today is composer and former Professor of Composition and Theory at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, Frank Corcoran. Hailing from Borrisokane in County Tipperary, he was always drawn to music, and as a young child wanting to record traditional Irish music created his own method of notation, before going on to study in Maynooth, Rome, and finally in Berlin with Boris Blacher. In the subsequent years, he found his voice, developed his technique of macro counterpoint, premiered his first symphony in Vienna, and took up a number of teaching posts, in Berlin, Stuttgart, and ultimately in Hamburg in 1983. Despite being based in Germany and Italy for the last 5 decades, his deep connection to Ireland and its language, history, and heritage, has remained and influences and informs many of his works. Keen to know more about his story and creative process, the challenges of being a composer in the Ireland of 50 years ago and how things have changed I sat down with Frank, where I began by asking about his first experience of music… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   10 Aug 2025

   Neasa Ní Bhriain

   My guest today is Professor of Viola at the Hochschule für Musik in Dresden, Neasa Ní Bhriain. Hailing from Dublin, she started out playing violin and in 2008 moved to Rostock in Germany to study it. However she had always been drawn to the viola, the critical middle voice of the string quartet, and during her studies there switched to it, before completing further studies in Leipzig and Weimar and then winning the position of solo viola in the Staatskapelle Weimar in 2018. A passionate exponent of contemporary music and its creative soundscapes, she combines her work as a performer and teacher with a zeal for composition and improvisation, and has written and performed numerous works for viola and pedals. Curious to know more about her journey, the challenges of switching instruments, and her approach to guiding the next generation of musician, I sat down with Neasa where I began by asking how she starting playing music…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   20 Jul 2025

   Daniel Sebastian Scholz

   My guest this week is Professor of Musicians Health with a special focus on mental health in Lübeck, Prof. Dr. Daniel Sebastian Scholz. Hailing from Tübingen in southern Germany, he is a trained psychologist and jazz musician, and initially studied psychology in Marburg before studying jazz composition in Osnabrück whilst completing his doctorate in Hannover. In 2022 he took up his current position in Lübeck, in the process becoming the first professor of this kind in Germany. Alongside his day to day work with musicians, he frequently gives seminars on stage fright, and self esteem, and has authored and co-authored numerous studies including one exploring low self esteem and performance anxiety and how it can predict depression in musicians Curious to know more about his journey, the issues facing musicians today, and how he helps them, I sat down with Daniel, where I began by asking when he first started playing music …. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   7 Jul 2025

   Deborah Kelleher

   Deborah Kelleher, Director of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, discusses her journey into leadership and the challenges facing conservatories, in an interview with Harmonically Speaking.

9. 

   21 Jun 2025

   Giacomo Smith

   Jazz clarinetist Giacomo Smith discusses his journey from classical clarinet studies to founding the band Kansas Smittys, inspired by early jazz, in an interview with an unnamed host.

10. 

    14 Nov 2024

    Fiachra Garvey

    Bringing Season 1 of Harmonically Speaking to a close is Irish pianist, Fiachra Garvey. Growing up in the countryside in Wicklow, his two passions are music and animals, and on leaving school he faced a dilemma regarding choice of career, studying both music and veterinary for a year before deciding on former at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. Upon completing his masters with first class honours and distinction, at the Royal Academy of Music in London,, he faced that all too familiar challenge of transitioning from student to professional. Already a laureate of numerous international competitions, he mastered this, building on a successful career as a solo pianist and chamber musician, by founding two highly regarded festivals - the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival and Classical Vauxhall. Wishing to gain an insight into his career path, the challenges it entails, and how he thinks musicians need to evolve in an ever more competitive environment, I sat down to talk with Fiachra, where I began by asking how he came to pick piano…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

11. 

    25 Sept 2024

    Gerard Keenan

    My guest today is the CEO of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Keenan A native of Dublin, he learned trumpet through the VEC at the College of Music in Dublin, later joining the Army No. 1 band before transitioning into management. During his time at the Irish Chamber Orchestra, they have built incredible partnerships, most notably with Jorg Widmann, and toured the globe, performing in many of the worlds greatest concert halls and festivals. However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, and his time at the helm has also involved navigating many challenges, including the severe fallout from the Great Recession which saw funding and staff numbers cut, and more recently the Global Pandemic which saw tours and engagements cancelled. Curious to find out more about these partnerships and challenges, what running a highly successful ensemble entails, and his thoughts on the future of classical music, I sat down with Gerry where I began by asking about his position as CEO, and how he ended up there…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

12. 

    13 Aug 2024

    Killian Farrell

    My guest today is conductor Killian Farrell, Generalmusikdirektor, or GMD for short, of one of Germany's most historic opera houses, the Stattstheater Meiningen. A native of Dublin he made his professional conducting debut aged 15 by organising and directing a performance of St Johns Passion before studying music at Trinity College Dublin. Following this, he made the move to Germany, becoming First Kapellmeister in Theater Bremen, and later at the Staatsoper Stuttgart, before taking up his current position in 2023 and the age of just 29. Curious to know more about the life of a conductor and all it entails, including the serious work of running an opera house, we sat down to talk where I began by asking what exactly a Generalmusikdirector is, and what they do... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

13. 

    28 Jul 2024

    Donagh Collins

    My guest today is the Chief Executive of two of the worlds most prestigious artist management companies, Askonas Holt and Opus 3, Donagh Collins Whilst studying mechanical engineering in UCD, he began amassing administrative experience running a successful string quartet in Dublin, before moving to London in 1999 to work in Askonas Holt. Before taking up his current position as CEO there in 2014, he was director of tours and projects there, representing many of classical musics most acclaimed artists and orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic. Curious to find out about what a career in artist management is really like, and to get an experts perspective on how classical music is changing, and the challenges it faces going forward, I sat down to talk with Donagh, where I began by asking about his current position and what exactly it entails.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

14. 

    14 Jul 2024

    Carol McGonnell

    My guest today is clarinettist Carol McGonnell. A fellow Dubliner, she initially wanted to play the flute, before taking up the clarinet in the then DIT College of Music. After studies in Queen's University Belfast and the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt she moved to New York for her Masters, where she studied at the Manhattan School of Music with the legendary clarinettist and pedagogue, Charles Neidich. As a soloist and chamber musician she performs worldwide and is a tireless champion of contemporary music, collaborating with and commissioning works from, many of its brightest talents. In May 2024, in the run up to her performance at the Dublin International Chamber Music festival with the JACK Quartet, we sat down to talk, where I began by asking when she decided to pursue a career in music… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

15. 

    23 Jun 2024

    Gintaras Januševičius

    My guest today is the Lithuanian pianist, pedagogue, and presenter Gintaras Januševičius. Hailing from a musical family his career to date has been defined by versatility and constant innovation. A graduate of the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover, and prize winner at multiple competitions, Gintaras now sits on numerous international competition juries and is artistic director of the Klavierstadt Einbeck series of competitions. Alongside a busy performing career as a solo pianist, chamber musician, and soloist, he runs a successful private studio in Hannover, and gives masterclass all around the world. In 2017, and seeking to equip young artists with all the skills necessary to succeed in the modern world, he founded two international piano academies - Klaipeda Piano Masters in Lithuania, and the invite only Feuerwerk Einbeck in Germany. In early January of 2024, I visited him in his private studio where I began by asking what drew him to the piano... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

16. 

    10 Jun 2024

    Gerold Anton Angerer

    My guest today is the Austrian clarinet maker, Gerold Angerer. Hailing from the town of Fritzens in the Tyrolean Alps, he first served an apprenticeship with Hammerschimdt in Wattens, later spending time with Howarth of London, before embarking on his own path and founding Gerold Klarinetten . In the more than twenty years since, his instruments have become some of the most exclusive and sought after world wide and as of time of recording, are no longer available to order, so long is his waiting list. I myself am lucky enough to own a set of Gerold Soloist d’arte clarinets, and on a trip to his workshop to collect them from some much needed care and attention, we sat down to talk about his career, his process of building instruments and how he manages to constantly innovate. I began by asking about his first encounter with the clarinet... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

17. 

    2 Jun 2024

    Maighréad McCrann

    Hello and welcome to Harmonically Speaking, the podcast that meets high achievers from the field of music and gives you an insight into their lives. I'm clarinettist Macdara Ó Seireadáin, and my guest today is violinist Maighréad McCrann. A native of Dublin, she studied Music in Trinity College Dublin and was a student of Brian McNamara at the then College of Music in Dublin before going to Vienna to study with Ersnt Kovacic. She is currently first konzertmeisterin of the ORF Sinfonieorchester Wien (Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra). In addition to this she is Professor of violin in Graz, and artistic director of the Neuberg masterclasses. I have always been curious about her experience of moving and studying abroad, winning the audition for her job, and also her pedagogical approach to training the next generation of musician. Therefore, I was delighted to have the chance to talk to her where I began by asking how she came to play the violin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

18. 

    26 May 2024

    Finghin Collins

    Hello and welcome to Harmonically Speaking, the podcast that meets high achievers from the field of music and gives you an insight into their lives. I'm Macdara Ó Seireadáin, a clarinettist in the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and my guest today is internationally renowned Irish pianist Finghin Collins. Born in Dublin, Finghin studied in the RIAM and the Geneva Conservatoire, and is a multiple competition winner, most notably winning the Clara Haskil Competition in 1999. As a soloist and chamber musician he performs worldwide, and alongside this busy performing career, he is artistic director of the New Ross Piano festival and Music for Galway, and is chair of the jury for both the Clara Haskil and Dublin international piano competitions. In early 2024, during a tour of Ireland with the Ficino Ensemble, where we were performing Penderecki’s magnificent sextet, we sat down to talk, and I began by asking what drew him to the piano, and when he decided to pursue a life in music. He also talked about the importance of finding the right teacher, what he listens for when sitting on a competition jury, and how he would like to see mental training for musicians become more commonplace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

19. 

    22 May 2024

    Harmonically Speaking Podcast Trailer

    Hello and welcome to Harmonically Speaking, the podcast that meets high achievers from the field of music and gives you an insight into their lives. I'm Macdara Ó Seireadáin, a clarinettist in the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and throughout the series I’ll be talking to orchestral musicians and soloists, conductors, administrators, instrument makers and more, finding out what sparked their passion, their career to date and their plans and hopes for the future. We’ll also hear about the challenges and setbacks they’ve faced along the way, the lucky breaks and any advice that they wish to pass on. So whether you a fellow musician, an aficionado, or simply curious I invite you to join me and hope you find these conversations insightful, educational and inspirational. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Podcast Authority Score: 5 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

9

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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