Niall O’Sullivan – Trumpet Interview
Welcome to the show notes for Episode #68 of The Other Side of the Bell – A Trumpet Podcast. This episode features trumpeter Niall O’Sullivan.
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About Niall O’Sullivan
Internationally acclaimed cross-genre trumpeter Niall O’Sullivan has performed all over the world, from orchestral playing to his solo theatre show. Niall has performed in some of the world’s most stunning venues throughout Ireland, Europe, Asia and the USA.
Leading his own ensemble, Niall and his fellow musicians continue to dazzle the public and give them a fresh appreciation for the trumpet. Bach to Brecht, Handel to Hammerstien, Purcell to Piazzolla, there is no genre Niall will not tackle.
Niall and his wife, vocalist Shóna, have toured extensively in the USA with their hit show ‘My Funny Valentine’ selling out theatres to rave reviews.
Niall has performed live with some of the biggest names in the music business, Perry Como, Dionne Warwick, Curtis Stigers, Imelda May, The Pogues, Lalo Schifrin, Jose Carreras, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sinead O’Connor, Michel Legrand and many more.
His latest album ‘Niall O’Sullivan and Friends’ was produced by Julian Lloyd Webber and Gavin Murphy. It features duets with opera star Danielle de Niese, four time ‘Grammy’ winning jazz guitarist Larry Carlton, theatre royalty Kim Criswell and two of Ireland’s finest vocalists, Emmet Cahill and Lisa Lambe. Accompaniment is provided by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra recently voted the ‘World’s Favourite Orchestra’ by Bachtrack and conductor David Brophy with arrangements by Gavin Murphy.
With a love of opera and the human voice, Niall O’Sullivan tries to emulate this passion when performing.
When the trumpet world got word of his growing profile as a performer and recording artist, Niall became a performing artist for Schilke Trumpets, Chicago exclusively. This relationship has seen Niall represent Schilke across the globe, from Dublin to Los Angeles.
Niall’s self titled debut album and ‘Ballads’ EP reached #1 on the iTunes classical and jazz charts respectively.
As an educator, Niall has given masterclasses and tutored for the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Royal Irish Academy of Music and Music Generation Ireland. As an examiner, Niall has enjoyed hearing both grade exams and third level performances for various examination bodies.
Niall started performing at the age of eight in the Artane Boys Band, Dublin. With “the best foundation imaginable” in place, Niall started lessons on scholarship at the DIT Conservatory. He then studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music for a further four years. Niall was awarded a scholarship for post graduate studies at the Royal College of Music, London.
Niall O’Sullivan is represented by Polaris Artist Management, Vienna.
Niall O’Sullivan is an international performing artist exclusively for Schilke trumpets, Chicago.
Niall O’Sullivan Links
Podcast Credits
- “A Room with a View“ – composed and performed by Howie Shear
- Audio Engineer – Preston Shepard at SC Sound Labs
- Cover Art – Phil Jordan
- Podcast Host – John Snell
Toru “Tiger” Okoshi was born in the Year of the Tiger on March 21 1950, just outside of Osaka (Ashiya city, Hyogo) As a child he was, in fact, devoted to painting as he loves today. At 13, he had an enlightening experience to see Louis Armstrong Perform live in Osaka, Japan, only 6 months after he begun to play the trumpet. ”He was painting the air with his trumpet” recalls Okoshi. Today, Okoshi often describes the relationship with his horn: “When I play, I want to paint the air with my colorful tone. Choices between long or short strokes, quick or slow, high in the canvas or low, brighter color or darker, with a fat brush or a pen. Paint the air one note at a time.”
Tiger, who loves sports, was invited to perform “The Star Spangled Banner” at the opening game of the 2007 season between Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees at Fenway Park, as well as the playoff games in 2007 and 2008. Tiger’s trumpet was surrounded by 20 trumpets, 10 trombones and 7 Japanese Taiko drummers playing his original arrangement. In 1997, Tiger recorded a CD entitled “Hustle Tigers” for Japanese major league baseball team Hanshin Tigers.
Philip Smith joined the New York Philharmonic as Co-Principal Trumpet in October 1978, and assumed the position of Principal Trumpet in June 1988. His father, Derek Smith, a renowned English cornet soloist, provided his early training. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School, having studied with Edward Treutel and William Vacchiano, former Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic. In January 1975, while still at Juilliard, Sir Georg Solti appointed Mr. Smith to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Smith has also appeared with many symphonic wind ensembles, including the US “President’s Own” Marine Band, the West Point Academy Band, the US Army TRADOC Band, the US Coast Guard Band, La Philharmonie des Vents des Quebec and many major university wind ensembles. He appeared at The College Band Directors National Association Convention in Austin, Texas, for the world premiere of Turrin’s Chronicles (1999) with the University of New Mexico Wind Ensemble. A subsequent recording of Chronicles was produced which included the world premiere of Stephen Gryc’s Evensong (2000) and Turrin’s Fandango (2000). Alfred Cohen’s “curls of motion” was premiered in 2008 with the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble. Aaron Kernis’ a Voice, a Messenger was premiered in 2013 with the University of Illinois Wind Ensemble.
In 2005, Mr. Smith was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music (Hon RAM). In 2006, Mr. Smith was given the International Trumpet Guild Honorary Award.As a member of the Principal Brass Quintet, Mr. Smith has toured Japan four times, as well as Brazil and Germany. He has also performed and recorded with the Canadian Brass, Empire Brass, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bargemusic, and New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony. His solo recordings include Contest Solos produced by the International Trumpet Guild; Fandango, featuring New York Philharmonic Principal Trombonist Joseph Alessi and the University of New Mexico Wind Symphony (Summit); My Song of Songs with the New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army (Triumphonic); Copland’s Quiet City (Deutsche Grammophone); New York Legends (CALA); Orchestral Excerpts for Trumpet (Summit); Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Concerto for Trumpet and Five Instruments (New World); Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Koch); Walton’s Facade (Arabesque); and The Trump Shall Resound and Repeat the Sounding Joy(Heritage).