Ryan McNeill began to study Piano at the age of 10 with Elizabeth Steele in Antrim. He achieved various successes in local and national Music Festivals including in both Solo and Chamber Music categories. In 2000, Ryan was a finalist in the Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year Competition and was also the recipient of the Sheila Philips Young Musician Trophy from Clotworthy Arts Centre and Antrim Borough Council.
In 2002 Ryan embarked on his undergraduate degree in Performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama under the tutelage of Fali Pavri. During this time Ryan was awarded a Lunchtime Recital from Belfast Classical Music Bursaries and was also invited by Nikki Johnston to perform Finzi’s Eclogue for Piano and Strings at the Elmwood Hall, Belfast. He was later invited to give recitals for EPTA Northern Ireland in St Georges Church, Belfast, and in Clotworthy Arts centre, Antrim. In recognition of his achievements and musical development in recent years, Clotworthy Arts Centre have invited Ryan back to present an evening piano recital in June 2008.
Ryan has recently completed his Masters in Music Performance with distinction at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin under the tutelage of Thérèse Fahy.
Recent performances include Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini , Beethoven Concerto No.2, the Rachmaninov and Shostakovich Cello Sonatas and Recitals which have included works such as Bach-Busoni’s Chaconne, Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, Debussy’s Pour le Piano, Liszt's Rhapsody Espagnol, Prokofiev’s Fourth Sonata and Bach’s Toccata in c minor.
Recent Masterclass performances include with Barry Douglas, John Lill, Ronald Brautigam, John O’Conor, Barry Snyder, Ronan O’Hora, Douglas Humphries and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.
Moreover, Ryan has been active as an orchestral musician from an early age. He has performed with some of Irelands most highly regarded Youth Orchestras including: The Ulster Youth Orchestra, The National Youth Symphony of Ireland (including NYSOI Camerata Strings) and Dublin Youth Symphony Orchestra. He has toured extensively throughout Europe and performed in countries including France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, England, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Notable performances include at the ‘World Festival of Youth Orchestras’ in Murcia, ‘Parc Floral Festival’ in Paris in which Ryan played Harpsichord with NYSOI Camerata Strings, the ‘Cork 2005’ European Capital of Culture opening concert, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Berlin KonzertHaus. Additionally, Ryan was selected as pianist for a collaborative tour with the European Vacation Chamber Orchestra and dance group ‘Imago Tijl’ Performing throughout Belgium, Switzerland and Italy in 2005.
Ryan, currently based in Dublin is active as a soloist, chamber musician and Teacher.
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