Biography

Irish violinist Colm Ó Braoin studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music under Michael d’Arcy, graduating with first class honours. Colm then went on to study in Belgium at the Institut Supérieur de Musique with Marc Danel and Gilles Millet of Quatuor Danel, achieving Grande Distinction in his final recital.

Whilst at the Royal Irish Academy, Colm led the Symphony, Chamber and Baroque orchestras, touring in China, Japan, Korea and United States of America. Colm has played with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra and was guest concertmaster in 2016 for the City of Dublin Chamber Orchestra.

A passionate chamber musician, Colm was a founding member of Kirkos Ensemble, dedicated to the performance of new music, and recently performed with the Milesian Quartet in a concert series for the Contemporary Music Centre in Dublin. Colm performed in an onstage quartet for the European premiere of Kevin Puts’ Pulitzer Prize winning opera Silent Night as part of Wexford Festival Opera’s 64th season. Colm is also a winner of the Feis Ceoil Chamber Music Cup and the Hazel de Courcy Cup for String Quartet.

As a soloist, Colm has performed in Dublin and Berlin with Trinity Orchestra and the RIAM Chamber Orchestra, and at festivals including La Crea Transeuropéennes in France, the Sorodha international composition competition in Belgium and the Xenia chamber music festival in Italy. This year, Colm gave the Irish premiere of Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons as a soloist with Co-Orch in Dublin.

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS

What do you love about classical music?
There is so much material contained under the umbrella term of ‘classical music’. As musicians, we get to put the dots on the page, whether they be freshly printed or centuries old through processes of tradition, reinvention and interpretation to form something that can be for everyone. The variety of structure, style and the live concert of ‘classical music’ means that it has the potential to be truly universal which is a very special thing.

What’s on your playlist right now?
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Enescu String Octet, Rory Gallagher, Hamilton (who knew a rap musical about the US founding father could be so amazing?), Young Blood Brass Band, Britten Violin Concerto and Stevie Wonder, the funkmaster general.

What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?
I like to run, jump in the sea, read, cook and maybe have a gin. A day with all of those in it is a good day.

Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us
I studied Film and Irish at university before deciding to pursue music.