Michael O'Toole
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Michael O'Toole (born 1972) is an Irish classical guitarist.[1]
He studied for many years with John Feeley at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin[2] and also spent two years studying with the renowned Cuban virtuoso Ricardo Iznaola in Denver, Colorado. He has since established himself as one of Ireland's leading guitarists, giving many memorable recitals and becoming Artistic Director of both The Waltons International Guitar Festival and the "Chord" Ennis International Music Festival. O'Toole is also on the board of directors of the prestigious Kilkenny Arts Festival.
O'Toole has performed extensively throughout Ireland, America and the United Kingdom, and has performed several times on national radio and television, including a live broadcast of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez on RTÉ lyric fm with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. His commitment to contemporary music and to the expansion of the guitar repertoire has led him to work with prominent Irish composers such as Eric Sweeney, Jerome de Bromhead, David Fennessy and Ian Wilson. He has also performed in ensemble with such groups as the Opera Theatre Company, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Dublin Guitar Quartet and RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. O'Toole is also on the faculty of The Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Music Department at Waterford Institute of Technology.
Michael holds a PhD from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and master's degree in performance from University College Cork.