Niall Keatley

Trumpet

Member since 2017

‘As a young child I remember watching all the Star Wars films and the many other Hollywood films which featured the LSO and was mesmerised by the sound of the Orchestra, especially the trumpets and brass. I remember very clearly thinking that I’d love to do that some day.’

Niall Keatley began his musical studies aged nine at the City of Belfast School of Music. He was a member of the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra and also played with a number of brass bands. Niall was Principal Trumpet of 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 spent a short time with the Black Dyke Mills Brass Band.

In 2002 Niall performed Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto 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.