Biography

Pianist and conductor Niall Kinsella has fast established himself as one of the most exciting Irish musicians of his generation. Described as “a meticulous collaborator” (BBC Music Magazine) and “a first class calling card as a knowledgable and profound song accompanist” (Merker, Austria), Niall has performed extensively across Europe, in venues such as Wiener Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, Mozarthaus Wien, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, The Liszt Academy, Budapest, National Concert Hall, Dublin, and the Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin. Niall has recorded critically acclaimed CDs, including John F. Larchet: Complete Songs & Airs (Champs Hill Records, 2020) and Schubert’s Women (Gramola Vienna, 2021).

In Ireland, he has accompanied virtually all of the leading singers, including Celine Byrne, Sharon Carty, Majella Cullagh, Owen Gilhooly, Anthony Kearns, Virginia Kerr, Lynda Lee, Raphaela Mangan, Eamonn Mulhall, Sandra Oman, Sylvia O'Brien, Cara O'Sullivan and Gavan Ring.

Niall is a graduate of the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, where he studied lieder accompaniment and chamber music with Prof. Barbara Moser, and undertook a Masters in Music Performance (Piano) at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. Niall completed his studies in lieder accompaniment at the Franz-Schubert-Institut, Baden-bei-Wien, an International Master Course for Lied Interpretation, where he studied with renowned accompanists Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake, Graham Johnson, Helmut Deutsch, and singers Elly Ameling, Birgid Steinberger, Andreas Schmidt and Robert Holl. He subsequently studied at the International Summer Academy of the Mozarteum University, Salzburg, where he was in the lied classes of Wolfgang Holzmair & Dalton Baldwin. He also holds a BMus degree from University College Dublin, an MA in Musicology and Performance from Maynooth University, and a Higher Diploma in Music Education from Griffith College Dublin. He began his early musical studies at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama studying piano, flute and musicianship.

Niall’s collaborations with choirs have included, Webern-Kammerchor der MDW (Vienna), award-winning Irish chamber choir, Tribal and RTÉ ConTempo Quartet, annual concerts with Chamber Choir Ireland, and RTÉ Cór na nÓg, and also accompanied conducting masterclasses and concerts given by Maestra Dr. Doreen Rao. His own choral arrangements have been published worldwide by Boosey & Hawkes (London) / Hal Leonard Corporation (USA).

Also an experienced conductor, Niall was selected as RTÉ Conductor in Training (2014-15), and as part of the programme worked with the RTÉ Orchestras, Quartet and Choirs and Irish Youth Choir, receiving coaching from leading international conductors. As director of Carlow Choral Society and his own ensemble Cambiata, he has conducted several major choral works including Mozart's 'Great' Mass in C minor & Exultate Jubilate, Fauré's Requiem, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Durufle’s Requiem, Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Haydn’s Stabat Mater, several performances of Handel’s Messiah (for which he was described a ‘rising star’), and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. Most recently, Niall made his debut conducting the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in a programme celebrating 80 years of the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein, in a sold-out concert at the National Concert Hall, Dublin.

With over ten years of teaching experience at Higher Education level, Niall was a performance tutor at Maynooth University Music Department, teaching piano to students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and coaching/accompanying instrumentalist and singers. He was a vocal coach on the American College Dublin's Performing Arts Degree programme. Niall is currently a répétiteur on the Vocal Faculty at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. He has delivered choral workshops across Ireland, including several choral workshops for the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland.

Biography not intended for publication. For an up-to-date biography or full CV, please contact Niall directly.