"An outstanding... virtuoso."
Gramophone

"He merits international exposure"
International Record Review

John Finucane is Principal Clarinettist with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.

More about John

John spent the early part of his career as Principal Clarinet in the RTÉ Concert Orchestra during which time he worked regularly as a soloist in Dublin, around Ireland, and abroad. He studied conducting with Janos Furst and Albert Rosen amongst others.

During that time he helped found the Dublin Chamber Orchestra and became Musical Director of the Hibernian Orchestra and the Dublin Youth Symphony Orchestra. He also regularly conducted the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Surrey Sinfonietta, Opera Theatre Company and helped launch Pro-Opera (London). He has worked as a freelance clarinet player with the Ulysses Ensemble, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, Opera North and Irish Film Orchestras.

In 1995 John became Principal Clarinet of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and joined the teaching faculty of the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Since then he has appeared as soloist with the orchestra on a nationwide tour and on the television series The Symphony Sessions. Last year he made several appearances both as soloist and conductor and the CD "Variations", recorded with the NSO on the RTE Lyric label has been greeted with great critical acclaim here and abroad. Gramopohone magazine described him as an "outstanding virtuoso".

He is a member of the National Chamber Ensemble of Ireland with whom he toured China last year. Whilst there the group perfomed to sell-out audiences and appeared live on television from Shanghai. Further trips are planned for this and subsequent years.

He is very active as a recitalist and with a variety of chamber ensembles. In recent years he has appeared at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Dublin Castle, the National Gallery and at the Festival of Music in Great Irish Houses.

He has featured on The South Bank Show, and has conducted many recording sessions for Irish Film Orchestras, Rua and Secret Garden, amongst others. He also hosted a series of concerts in The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham and appears regularly on radio and in pre-concert talks in the National Concert Hall as part of the RTÉ Subscription Series of concerts including several in the months to come.

He will be appearing as soloist and conductor in a number of concerts in the forthcoming summer season and also in the 2010\2011 subscription series and marks the debut of his new training orchestra "Phoenix" in the National Concert Hall on the 11th of April next.