ACCLAIMED Milford pianist and composer Gerard O’Donnell is returning to Donegal this month for a special performance in Letterkenny.
He is a member of The Balor Piano Trio, along with violinist Pavle Marinković from Serbia and cellist Marta Tobar from Spain, who are performing at the Regional Cultural Centre on Saturday, June 13.
Gerard is widely recognised as one of Ireland’s most exciting contemporary classical composers.
He has built an international reputation for emotionally powerful compositions rooted in Irish storytelling, folklore and the landscape of the north west.
He has gained growing recognition for works including ‘Solstice’ and his 2025 album ‘In Honour of the Moon’.
Gerard is now based in Madrid and has lived there for over a decade, working as Head of English Literature at Madrid College.
He attended Loreto Milford before studying music at Trinity College Dublin and training at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Gerard taught for some time in Technological University Dublin (TUD).
A defining moment in Gerard’s musical journey came at the age of 15 while practising on the Steinway piano at Loreto Letterkenny ahead of a Royal Irish Academy of Music exam, when legendary Irish pianist John O’Conor overheard him play and became an important mentor.
At this time Gerard was also being tutored by the late Derek Fleming.
The son of Bernadette and Michael O’Donnell, Gerard grew up in a family of ten children where music was central to daily life.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Gerard said he is now excited to perform in his home county.
He said the spontaneity of playing music is something he has missed from home.
“It’s very special, that doesn’t happen everywhere,” said Gerard.
“If you go outside of Ireland, they don’t have the same tradition of playing spontaneous music.”
Gerard will be performing songs from his albums as well as some new material at the concert in Letterkenny, including songs from ‘In Honour of the Moon’.
He explained that he wanted to include elements of Celtic flair in the music, as well as retaining a classical feel.
The album is a nocturn, which is traditionally intended to be played at night.
“It’s an album that has nine pieces of music, and it’s very narrative,” said Gerard. “It’s not that there’s a concrete story when you’re listening to the pieces of music, but it’s very evocative.”
Gerard became friends with Pavle and Marta through a mutual friend in Madrid.
Even the name of the musical trio incorporates the mystical Celtic influence, as Balor was a monstrous figure in Irish mythology.
“The three of us have an energy that’s very hard to put into words, but once we get together, rehearsing and playing music, it’s almost like a session of Irish music back home,” said Gerard.
“They’re both great interpreters, but they both just fly off with the most basic instructions. They give you something back which is beyond what you originally conceived in your mind.”
Gerard has recently been filming some music videos for the album around Donegal. He recorded on Kinnegar Beach outside Rathmullan, and with the help of friends, brought his piano to the Poisoned Glen at the foot of Mount Errigal.
Gerard even managed to rope in a few family members into the music video for the song ‘Ghost’, which is inspired by family house parties growing up.
“It’s all my nieces and nephews that are in it, they’re the extras,” he said.
Gerard enjoyed the filming and is looking forward to audiences getting to see Donegal locations in the music videos.
He hopes to see new and familiar faces at the concert.
Jeremy Howard, Director of the Regional Cultural Centre, has expressed his excitement at welcoming The Balor Piano Trio.
“We are delighted to welcome Gerard home to Donegal for this performance,” he said.
“It is always a proud moment when a Donegal musician who has achieved success abroad returns to perform here at home. Gerard’s journey is a reminder of the extraordinary talent that exists in this county and the importance of nurturing and supporting that talent from an early age.”
Together with Pavle and Marta, The Balor Piano Trio promises an atmospheric evening of contemporary chamber music.
The Balor Piano Trio will perform in the Regional Cultural Centre on Saturday, June 13 at 8pm.
Tickets are €18 to €21 and can be bought on www.regionalculturalcentre.com.
Piano on Kinnegar Beach