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Hailed by the distinguished Hungarian pianist, Tamas Vasary, as having a very rare and special poetic talent, Neil Cooney is considered to be one of the most distinctive pianists of his generation. He studied at the College of Music, Dublin and has won top national music competitions in Ireland; he has also represented his country at the European Music Prize.  Neil was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, London and distinguished himself by winning many prizes there and was awarded the DipRAM. He also toured the Channel Islands with the RAM Sinfonia playing Mozart to great acclaim.  Neil received the Anna Instone Award for the outstanding musician graduating from a British conservatoire which was presented to him by Sir Richard Attenborough and went on to further study with Maria Curcio Diamond.  Neil has performed extensively throughout Ireland and has played concerti by Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Grieg, Chopin, Fauré, Franck, Messiaen and Gershwin with the RTE Orchestras. He has made many live recital and concerto broadcasts for RTE Lyric FM and has performed on RTE and Channel 4 television. He had given several recitals at the Purcell Room, South Bank Centre, London and his CD of works by Schumann and Schubert has been critically acclaimed. The unusual poetic and emotional presence in his playing, mark Neil as a pianist of rare ability.  Neil has brought the same level of commitment to his role as a teacher and he holds a teaching position at Highgate School.  Neil also enjoys a thriving private practice in Muswell Hill, North London where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Many of his pupils have gone on to study music at third level.

 

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