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Dublin-born pianist Órán Halligan began taking piano lessons at the age of 8, and became a part-time student of the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2011. There he received both a Diploma and Bachelor’s in Music Performance, studying under Professor Anthony Byrne. He also holds a Masters in Keyboard from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he studied under Professors Jonathan Plowright, Sinae Lee and Aaron Shorr. Órán is currently a Doctoral student and 1848 Scholar of the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
Órán made his Concerto debut performing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” alongside the Dublin Concert Band at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, as part of their 60th Anniversary Gala Concert. He then went on to perform Poulenc’s Piano Concerto in C# Minor with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.
Órán has been awarded the “John O’Conor Cup for Outstanding Musicianship” and was 1st-Prize winner of the 10th Annual “Irish Freemason’s Young Musician of the Year Award”. In 2023 Órán released his first album of solo piano music “Visions” which explores previously unrecorded works in the canon of Irish piano repertoire and also includes a new Commission “Físeanna an Ghiorria” by Composer and Clarinettist Christopher Moriarty.
As a recitalist and chamber musician, Órán has performed extensively across Ireland, the UK and Spain. He has a particular interest in the performance of lesser-known piano works and has premiered numerous compositions by emerging Irish composers. Recently, alongside Clarinettist Cathal Killen, Órán gave the premiere of Michael Cummins’ work “A New Species”, as part of the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival.
In the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Órán was joined by fellow pianist Luke Lally Maguire to give a 14-hour long performance of Erik Satie’s “Vexations”. Through this live-stream they raised in excess of 6,000 Euro for the Beaumont Hospital Foundation.
Órán has performed frequently in music festivals both at home and abroad including Boyne Music Festival, PLUG Contemporary Music Festival (Scotland), Royal Tunbridge Wells (England), West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival, Madrid’s “A Tempo” Festival and Music in Monkstown.
His Recital Programme will include Johannes Brahms: Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118 (approx. 25′ duration) and Modeste Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (35′).
