Michael McHale

Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

Shostakovich, Piano Concerto no. 2

Wednesday 9 June 2010

National Concert Hall, Dublin

Peter Whelan

Mozart, Bassoon Concerto

Sunday 28 February 2010 at 3.15 PM

St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny

Saturday 6 March 2010 at 8 PM

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin

Peter Whelan is one of Europe?s leading exponents of historical and modern bassoon. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, he was appointed as principal bassoon of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in 2008, having previously held the position of principal bassoon with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (2003?8). Peter has worked with many of Europe?s finest orchestras, among them the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gustav Mahler Chamber Orchestra, and Oper Z?rich. Equally at home on historical instruments, he has a diverse repertoire spanning over four centuries and has performed with many of the world?s most distinguished baroque specialists and period ensembles, including Monica Huggett, Alfredo Bernardini, Marc Minkowski, Sir Simon Rattle (with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment), the English Concert, English Baroque Soloists, and Le Concert d?Astr?e

As a concerto soloist, Peter has appeared with Bach Consort Wien, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, and the Irish Baroque Orchestra. In 2008, he toured Mexico as soloist with the ensemble La Serenissima. His recording of Vivaldi bassoon concertos with La Serenissima (?Vivaldi ? the French Connection?) has recently been released on the Avie label to critical acclaim. Peter is also a keen chamber musician. In 2007, he won both First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Bruges International Musica Antiqua Competition performing with the ensemble Xacona.

Peter received his early musical training in Ireland at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. After graduating from Trinity College, Dublin, with a first-class degree in music (2000), Peter won a Swiss Government Scholarship to study with Professor Sergio Azzolini at the Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel. Peter is now a committed teacher in his own right and has recently joined the teaching faculty of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow.