Raymond O'Donnell

Raymond O'Donnell has been director of music at Galway Cathedral since January 1994. A native of Dublin, he studied organ under Gerard Gillen at Dublin's Pro-Cathedral where he was organ scholar for three years. He studied music and mathematical physics at NUI Maynooth, graduating in 1991 with a first-class honours MA in organ interpretation and performance; while an undergraduate he spent a year on scholarship to University of Louisville, Kentucky, for advanced organ studies under Melvin Dickenson. He has attended masterclasses with Daniel Roth, Marie-Claire Alain, Ben Van Oosten and others. For three years he was director of sacred music at Clongowes Wood College in Co Kildare, where he set up a system of student cantors and organists that is still in operation. From there he moved to Galway Cathedral, where his duties include playing the organ, directing the Cathedral Choir, organising major events and administering all music in the Cathedral. He founded Galway Cathedral Recitals in 1994. He performs regularly as both soloist and accompanist in Ireland and abroad. In addition to his musical career, he is active as a computer programmer, and also holds a private pilot's license.