Michael Mchale

Winner of the Terence Judd / Hallé Award in 2009, Belfast-born Michael McHale has established himself as one of Ireland's leading pianists.

He has performed as a soloist with the Minnesota, Hallé, Moscow Symphony and Bournemouth Symphony orchestras, the London Mozart Players, City of London Sinfonia and all five of the major Irish orchestras, and performed at the Tanglewood Festival, Wigmore Hall (London), Berlin Konzerthaus, Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Lincoln Centre (New York), Symphony Hall (Boston) and Pseti Vigadó in Budapest.

His critically acclaimed début solo album, The Irish Piano, was released in 2012 by RTÉ lyric fm and selected as 'CD of the Week' by the critic Norman Lebrecht. More recent solo released include Schubert: Four Impromptus on Ergots, Miniatures and Modulations on Grand Piano, and a first orchestral album Irish Piano Concertos, featuring works by John Field and Philip Hammond with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Courtney Lewis. His discography also includes releases on Delos, Nimbus Alliance, Lorelt, and six duo recital albums on Chandos with clarinetist Michael Collins.

A graduate of Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music, Michael's teachers and mentors include John O'Conor, Christopher Elton and Barry Douglas. He collaborates regularly with Sir James Galway, Michael Collins, Dame Felicity Lott and Camerata Pacifica.

"...instatly engaging..."
- The Times

"...lucidity and elegance..."
- Daily Telegraph

"...absolute mastery of style..."
- Irish Examiner

"...a pianism that was tastefully gestured, delicately graded, and infallibly clear..."
- Irish Times

"...bravura playing..."
- Washington Post

"...masterful piano playing..."
- Irish News