Brian Byrne first RT Concert Orchestra Artist in Residence

Brian Byrne first RT Concert Orchestra Artist in Residence 11 February 2013: The RT Concert Orchestra is delighted to welcome Irish musician Brian Byrne as its new Artist in Residence, the first in the orchestras 65-year history.

Navan-born Byrne, based in Los Angeles since 2003, is rapidly becoming one of Ireland's most successful musical ambassadors, as a composer, conductor, songwriter, arranger and pianist. Recognition for his film scores includes a Golden Globe nomination and two World Soundtrack Awards (for Albert Nobbs) and two IFTAs (Zonad and Albert Nobbs). His score to The Good Doctor with Orlando Bloom has been praised by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety for its subtlety and romanticism. Barbra Streisand has just recorded If It's Meant to Be, a song Byrne co-wrote with songwriting legends Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Byrne conducted Streisand in the recording, which features on her recent album Release Me.

Byrne has also collaborated with Bono, Katy Perry, Lisa Stansfield, Van Morrison, The Corrs, Vince Gill and Gladys Knight, to name a few. He has toured with Diane Warren, produced and arranged strings for Pink in The X Factor, arranged a song for Sex and the City 2 and played piano on Liza Minnelli's cover of Beyonc 's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). He is currently working on the music for the new Riverdance show entitled Heartbeat of Home.

Brian Byrne's appointment as RT CO Artist in Residence is the natural next step in a long-standing and highly productive relationship with the orchestra. They share a vibrant, eclectic approach to music-making and have worked closely together over the past decade, in live performance and in the recording studio. Byrne also recorded his own new jazzy arrangement of the Late Late Show theme with the RT CO when Ryan Tubridy took over as presenter. Their relationship has already notched up that Golden Globe nomination and two World Soundtrack Awards for Albert Nobbs, recorded in RT Radio Centre. At the time, he spoke of his pride in the RT CO's enormous contribution to the soundtrack: I am so glad I got to do it with the home team this orchestra's versatility is unmatched in Europe.' In another significant breakthrough for Byrne and the RT CO, their album Tales from the Walled City, with guests including soprano Danielle de Niese and violinist Nicola Benedetti, was recently released on Decca, the world's most prestigious classical label.

Byrne has just returned to LA after his most recent visit to Ireland. While here, he recorded the soundtrack to the new Shiloh Fernandez film Amos' Wake with the RT Concert Orchestra in RT Radio Centre. He also acted as MD and conducted the RT CO for the IFTAs on Saturday night at the Convention Centre.

Anthony Long, General Manager of the RT CO, has welcomed the addition of Brian Byrne to the orchestra's artistic team, saying: While we are no strangers to each other, the cementing of this partnership will result in many exciting collaborations over the next three years and beyond. This appointment is a perfect fit with the RT Concert Orchestras strategy and direction and gives us both the opportunity to continue to develop.'

Brian Byrne has said: I am incredibly excited to be part of the RT Concert Orchestra family. This will be a great and very fruitful collaboration!'

LINK:	http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2013/0212/36745...
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