Ben O'Brien
Ben began studying the clarinet at 13 and is now a final year student studying at the TU Dublin Conservatoire with Dr Paul Roe. He has diverse musical interests participating in concert bands, orchestras and jazz bands whilst exploring different genres as a solo and chamber musician.
Most recently he has been participating in the TU Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra project performing programs including Mahler's Fifth Symphony, the works of John Williams and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony whilst also participating as a member of the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble, Esker Festival Orchestra and TU Dublin Wind Ensemble. Ben also sings bass as a member of the international award-winning choir New Dublin Voices and TU Dublin Chamber Choir.
This Summer Ben has been selected to participate in numerous musical programs, including AlpenKammerMusik in Liesling, Austira as well as the 40th anniversary concert tour with the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble. He will also be taking part in National Youth Music Theatre’s production of Carousel in Birmingham this Summer.
As a solo musician, Ben has competed and performed in numerous competitions and recitals including performances at Feis Ceoil and TU Dublin Conservatoire competitions, as well as reaching the semi-final of the 2023 Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year. He was recently selected to perform as part of the UCH Limerick Rising Stars Gala in April 2025.
For his undergraduate final recital this May, Ben will present a 50-minute program consisting of 3 major works from the clarinet repertoire: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 2 in Eb Major–1894, Johannes Brahms; Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet–1918, Igor Stravinsky, Sonata for Clarinet and Piano–1962, Francis Poulenc.
