Tullamore International Summer Organ Series

Bogdan Sofei, violin, was born in Bucharest in 1975 and is leader of the Con Tempo String Quartet,the Ensemble-in-Residence in Galway since January 2003. He graduated from the University of Music in Bucharest where he studied with Ladislau Csendes and Stefan Gheorghiu. He continued his studies at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada, the Royal Academy of Music in London, Accademia Chigiana in Siena, European Academy of Music in Aix-en Province, Britten-Pears School for Advanced Music Studies in Aldeburgh and Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Madrid. In addition, Bogdan received his Master of Arts in Music with First Class Honours at Cork School of Music, in 2005. Bogdan has won several international and national competitions in Italy and Romania in addition to the international prizes he has won as first violinist of Con Tempo Quartet: 1st Prize at Grosser Forderpreise Competition in Munich-Germany,1st Prize at Valentino Bucchi competition in Rome, 1st Prize at Tunnel Trust Competition in London, 1st Prize at Mozart competition in Cluj, 2nd Prize at Johannes Brahms International Competition in Hamburg, Audience Prize and 3rd Prize at London String Quartet Competition, 3rd Prize at Schubert und die Musik der Moderne Competition in Graz, 3rd Prize at Max Reger Competition in Weimar, The Wigmore Award and The Romanian Musical Critics Union Prize in Bucharest. He has toured the world extensively, performing at many major international festivals in Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Aoise O'Dwyer, viola, is a student of acclaimed violist Sven Arne Tepl at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has participated in festivals in Ireland, France, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA, and has performed in masterclasses for renowned artists Jurgen Kussmaul, Martin Outram, Burton Kaplan, Bruno Giuranna, David Gaudry and Marc Toten. A keen ensemble player, she is currently a member of Ardesko chamber orchestra, and performs with the orchestras of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the NJO Dutch Orchestra and Ensemble Academy. Aoise began her musical studies with her mother, Adele O'Dwyer, in 1994, and pursued further study at the Cork School of Music under Constantin Zanidache and Ruxandra Colan, and with Anne Etevenon at the Conservatoire de Nantes, France. Before moving to The Netherlands in 2012, Aoise studiedat UCD, graduating with a first class honours Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Celtic Studies. During this time she, held an Instrumental Scholarship from the UCD Ad Astra Performing Arts Academy, and was awarded the Grattan Prize for Outstanding Musicianship as principal violist of UCD Symphony Orchestra. Dedicated to exploring the many facets of the viola as a solo and ensemble instrument, Aoise has a strong interest in contemporary music, and has been involved in the world premieres of several newly commissioned chamber works since arriving in Amsterdam. Her interest in Historical Performance Practice has led her to pursue a minor in baroque viola, giving her the opportunity to work with Early Music specialists. Aoise will complete her studies in Amsterdam next year, and hopes to pursue a career as a chamber musician.

Adele O’Dwyer, cello, has had a long and varied career as performing artist, chamber musician, composer and educator, and brings to this trio collective a wealth of experience from many diverse angles and musical perspectives. From her early training with the Chicago Civic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Training Orchestra, mentorships with international soloists such as Zara Nelsova, Janos Starker and Lynn Harrell and chamber music coaching with the Juilliard String Quartet, Adele has played extensively as an orchestral musician on both sides of the Atlantic holding both leadership and section positions in the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony of Ireland, Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Opera Theatre Company as well as and a number of festival chamber orchestras both in Ireland and in the USA. Outreach and community music projects have formed a central plank of the work Adele has done over the years in Co. Offaly where she resides.

Thomas Charles Marshall is organist and Director of Music at St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin. He received his musical education at RIAM, the Schola Cantorum of St Finian’s College Mullingar, and Emmanuel College Cambridge studying organ with Shane Brennan, Peter Hurford and David Adams. He completed his Masters in Music Performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music under the direction of David Adams last year receiving first-class honours. Charles lived in Japan for 14 years and is also an accomplished exponent of the traditional Japanese lute known as the Satsuma Biwa.