ONYX BRASS

Niall Keatley

Niall Keatley   (trumpet)    Niall began his musical studies at the City of Belfast School of Music at the age of nine. While at the C.B.S.M he was a member of the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra and also played with a number of Brass Bands in the Northern Ireland area. In addition Niall was principal trumpet with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain performing in some of Europe’s finest concert halls. Niall was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music where his teachers included, Ian Balmain, James Watson and John Wallace. During this time Niall was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra and also spent a short time with the Black Dyke Mills Brass Band. As a free-lance trumpet player Niall has performed with various orchestras including, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In 2002 Niall performed Haydn’s trumpet concerto on BBC television with the Ulster Orchestra as part of the BBC Last night of the Proms, Proms in the Park series. As well as being a member of Onyx brass, Niall has performed with a number of chamber ensembles including, London Brass, LSO Brass, London Winds and the Wallace Collection.