Performing regularly in major venues in Europe, North America and Asia, Maria McGarry has received consistent praise from critics for her intuitive musicianship, depth of interpretation and uniquely personal style. Début recitals at London's Wigmore Hall (2004) and the National Concert Hall in Dublin (2002) received much acclaim. Awarded the coveted Artist Diploma in Performance from the Juilliard School in 2003, she is one of a select group of musicians to receive this accolade.

Maria McGarry's recent performances include a successful London concerto debut featuring performances of Bach�s Concerto in D minor and the UK premier of Ian Wilson's 'Limena' (orchestral version) with the London Irish Camerata. She also performed a recital at the Belfast Festival at Queens' in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerig, where she premiered 'Sonic Postcards' a collection of miniatures written by several composers to mark the occasion. She has also performed as principal guest in the recent West Cork Music Easter Festival "Callino & Friends", recitals at the Aspen Music Festival, at the Banff Centre in Canada, recordings for RTÉ Lyric FM and numerous recitals throughout Ireland including a performance as soloist in the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland's 'Lunchtime Choice' series. Other notable performances include recitals at Geneva's Palais de Nations to mark the closure of the Irish EU Presidency in 2004, recitals at the European Music Festival in Warsaw, the EU Cultural Week in New Delhi, London's Leighton House and Spain's New Millennium Piano Festival. North American performances include the American Irish Historical Society, the Fulbright Annual Awards Ceremony, Pianofest in the Hamptons and the Banff Centre for Performing Arts. 'An Tuath Nua', the TG4 current affairs programme, recently featured a programme following her life and career to date as a musician.

Maria McGarry has performed as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Spain's New Millennium Orquesta, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Dublin Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Irish Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra. She also enjoys chamber music and has collaborated with many noted musicians both at home and abroad including the RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quartet, the Callino Quartet and the Paul Klee Quartet amongst others. She has recorded for Polish National Radio, RTÉ Lyric FM and has appeared live on RTÉ�s 'The Late-Late Show'. Ms. McGarry maintains a busy concert schedule throughout Ireland performing regularly at the leading national music venues and festivals.

The numerous prizes and accolades Ms. McGarry has received include the John Field and Brennan Prizes at the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition, the Lisney Young Pianist Award, the Sunday Independent / Ford Ireland Young Artists Bursary, the Ulster Bank Music Foundation Award in 1997, the Fulbright Talent Award at the 2002 International Seminar in Washington DC and the Isman Prize for the most outstanding performance at the Tel-Hai International Piano Festival in 2001, leading to a gala performance at the Tel-Aviv Museum of Modern Art. She has received scholarship awards from the Fulbright Commission, the Juilliard School, Bank of Ireland Millennium Scholars Trust and the Arts Council of Ireland.

Shortly after her concert debut at the age of six, Maria McGarry was awarded an entrance scholarship to the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Her teachers and mentors include Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky, Dr. John O'Conor, Ms. Pnina Salzmann and Ms. Therese Fahy. Recipient of the Briscoe Cup for the most outstanding student of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2000, she holds Master and Bachelor degrees in Music Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music/Dublin City University.

Possessing a strong affinity for the music of Olivier Messaien, she was awarded a performance bursary by the Arts Council of Ireland to facilitate specialisation in his piano repertoire, and will give numerous performances of the 'Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant Jesus' and other works to mark the 100th anniversary of the composer's birth in 2008.

Sample Programmes

Concerto Repertoire

W.A. Mozart: Concerto no.13 in C major k415
Concerto no.14 in E flat major k449
Concerto in no. 17 in G major k453
Concerto no.20 in D minor k466
Concerto no. 23 in A major k488

L. Van Beethoven: Concerto no.3 in C minor Op.37

R. Schumann: Concerto in A minor Op.54

P. Tchaikovsky: Concerto no.1 in Bb major Op.23

S. Prokofiev: Concerto no.3 in C major Op.26

M. De Falla: 'Noches en los Jardines de Espania'

D. Shostakovich Concerto no. 2 in F major Op. 102

Solo Repertoire

JS Bach: Toccata and Fugue in C minor BWV 911
Prelude and Fugue in A major Bk.1
Prelude and Fugue in Bb minor Bk.2
Prelude and Fugue in G minor Bk.1

D. Scarlatti: Sonata in G major L232
Sonata in D major L84
Sonata in C minor L154

WA Mozart: Adagio in B minor k540 Sonata in D major k311
Fantasia in D minor k397
J Haydn: Fantasia in C major Hob XVII:4
Sonata in B minor Hob XVI:32

L Van Beethoven: Sonata in Eb major Op.81a 'Les Adieux'
Sonata in E major Op.109
Sonata in C minor Op.111

F Schubert: Sonata in G major D894
Vier Impromptus D935
Sonata in A minor D784

R Schumann: Variations sur le nom Abegg Op.1
Papillons Op.2.
Kreisleriana Op.16.
Arabeske Op.18
Bunte Blatter Op.99.
Carnaval Op. 9

F Chopin: Sonata no. 2 in Bb minor Op.35
Scherzo no. 2 in Bb minor Op. 31
Nocturnes in C# minor and D flat major Op. 27
Waltzes: Op.64 no's 1,2.
Études: Op.10 no's 1,12.
Op.25 nos. 9,11.

F Liszt: Aprés une Lecture du Dante; Fantasia quasi Sonata
Hungarian Rhapsody no.13 in A minor
Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Rigoletto Paraphrase
Consolation no.3 in D flat majo

r F Liszt/ F Schubert: 'Auf dem Wasser zu Singen'
'Gretchen am Spinnerade'
'Die Forelle'

F Liszt/R Schumann: 'Widmung'

J Brahms: Fantasien Op.116
Sonata no.3 in F minor Op.5. Variations on a Theme by Schumann Op.9

C Franck : Prélude, Chorale et Fugue

M Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

S Prokofiev: Sonata no. 8 in Bb major Op.84

S Rachmaninov: Étude Tableaux Op.33 no.6
Melodie Op.3 no.3

C Debussy: Étude no.7 pour les Degres Chromatiques from Preludes:
'Les Collines d'Anacapri'
'Voiles'
'Ce qu'a vu le vent d'Ouest'
'Le Fille aux Cheveux de Lin'
'La cathédrale Engloutie'
'Minstrels..'
'Bruyères..'
M Ravel : Jeux d'Eau

A Schoenberg : Sechs Kleine Klavierstucke Op.19

A Berg : Sonata Op.1

O Messiaen : from Vingt Regards sur l'Enfant Jésus:
No. XI 'NoV;l'
No. XIII 'Premier Comunión de la Vierge'
No. XV 'Le Baiser de l'Enfant Jésus'

Jane O'Leary: Cartoline dalla Sicilia (1987)

Charles Kinsella: Reflection 2 (1997)

Siobhan Cleary: 'Suantrai'

Chamber Music Repertoire

WA Mozart: Piano Quartet in G minor k478

J Haydn: Piano Trio in G major Piano, Hob. XV: 25 ("Gypsy")

WA Mozart: Sonata in D major for two pianos, K.448

L Van Beethoven: Piano Trio in D major Op.70 no.1
Sonata no. 3 for piano and cello in A major Op.69
F Schubert: 'Der Hirt auf dem Felsen' D 965
Variations on 'Trockne Blumen' for flute and piano
Piano Trio in E flat major Op.100
Notturno in E flat major D 897

R Schumann: Quintet in E flat major Op.47

C Franck: Sonata in A major for Piano and Violin

J Brahms: Horn Trio in E flat major Op.40

P Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A minor Op.50

D Shostakovich: Piano Quintet in G minor Op.57

O Messaien: 'Visions de l'Amen' for two pianos.
No. 1.'Amen de la Creation'
No. 1 'Amen des anges, des saints, du chant des oiseaux'

Reviews

"Maria McGarry's performance of Schumann's Papillons was enchanting. ...Her interpretation was utterly compelling."

The Sunday Tribune April 2006

"A typically insightful, almost incense- haloed account of Messaien's' Le baiser d L’Enfant Jesus."

The Irish Times, October 2006

"...impeccable...a model of how to let music speak for itself."

The Irish Times October 2000

"...the spine-tingling sense of rapture she breathes"

The Irish Times, May 1997

"instinctive imagination and musicianship...a model of how to let music speak for itself."

Martin Adams, The Irish Times

"...passionate in her rapt intensity and in her conviction"

The Irish Times

"...captivating... "

The Sunday Business Post

"...mesmerizing and yet sensitive..."

The Carlow Champion

"...beautiful tone..."

The Irish Times

"...highlight of the lunchtime Recital Series was the performance of Maria McGarry..."

The Irish Independent

More Info

For further information on availability or artist fees or to discuss a booking please contact the Performance Programme Manager by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or telephone: 01 6719429.