GEALÁN QUARTET

Gina Maria McGuinness, violin
Eoin Ducrot, violin
Fiachra de hOra, viola
Paul Grennan, cello

“A bright spell”, formed in the Spring of 2021, the Gealán Quartet began their musical journey together. Composed of four of Ireland’s most gifted young musicians hailing from Cork, Dublin and Wicklow. After completing their second successful Irish tour through the National String Quartet Foundation, with a residency at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris in Spring of 2022, the Gealán display that they are a tour de force and will be a regular upon our stages.

It was in the heart of Paris that this musical relationship and its marriage was then sealed. With vast musical experience among them as individuals, both as soloists and as part of ensembles and orchestras, helping them to combine their mastery of their instruments as chamber musicians.

They have performed works by Fanny Mendelssohn, Mozart, Dvorak, Schumann, Shostakovich, Sam Perkin and the Derry born composer, Michael Doherty, who, commissioned by the Gealán Quartet, composed his remarkable and well received No. 3 String Quartet as part of their Autumn 2023 tour. Prior to that tour the quartet also performed at Westival at the invitation of Westport Festival of Chamber Music.

A reputation for showing their more intimate and personal side, contrasting at times with more fiery and heartfelt performances, the Gealán prove with every performance that they are a continued audience favourite.

Gina Maria McGuinness, violin

Born in Dublin, Gina Maria McGuinness began her musical path at the age of four with Maria Kelemen and later followed her studies with Prof. Ronald Masin, winning the title “Young Musician of Tallinn”, Estonia in 1998. In 2006, she was invited back by the Estonian Symphony Orchestra on an Estonian tour of Brahms Double Concerto, and later gave her debut solo recital at the NCH Dublin alongside renowned pianist Alasdair Beatson in June of 2007.

Over countless years of leading the YES Chamber Orchestra (YESCO) and regular participation of the West Cork Chamber music festival, Gina developed her never ending love of chamber music. Her love flourished when she continued her studies with Prof. Shmuel Ashkenasi in Lübeck, Germany and later in Chicago, where she received her performance diploma with the highest of honor. It was here, home to the Chicago Symphony orchestra, that her passion for orchestral playing began. Gina later continued her studies in Lausanne “HEMU Site De Sion” in the class of Prof. Pavel Vernikov where she again received with high honor her Masters degree.

Once calling Switzerland her home for more than 10 years, Gina now lives in the West of Ireland with her family enjoying a freelance career, a proud member of the European Philharmonic of Switzerland (EPOS), frequently invited to the GAIA Chamber music festival, as guest co-principal player of the Brussels Philharmonic, the Berner Kammerorchester (BKO), City Lights Symphony Orchestra, the Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO), our National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Irish National Opera (INO). Gina fondly plays an Andre Amati violin, School of Cremona, Ivano Conti.

Eoin Ducrot, violin

Eoin Ducrot is one of Ireland’s foremost violinists of his generation, known for his versatility across solo, chamber, and contemporary music. Educated in Ireland, France and Switzerland, he completed his Performance and Specialised Soloist Masters with highest honors and studied with renowned artists including Raphael Oleg, Guy Braunstein and Leonidas Kavakos.

Ducrot has won numerous prestigious awards, both individually and in chamber music. He has gained international acclaim, performing at major European festivals such as Davos, Musikdorf Ernen, and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. As a duo with pianist Chiara Opalio, he won first prize at the Hochschule für Musik Basel Duo Competition and was invited by Sir András Schiff to perform at the Beethoven Festival in Bonn.

As a soloist, Ducrot has appeared with orchestras including Sinfonieorchester Basel and the Kölner Orchester-Gesellschaft, and regularly guests with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and Tonhalle Orchester Zurich. He has worked under distinguished conductors like Paavo Järvi and Kent Nagano and served as guest concertmaster for various European orchestras.

A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Ducrot has premiered numerous works, including pieces dedicated to him and his ensembles. Beyond classical music, he is an accomplished baroque violinist and a skilled arranger in pop music, contributing to the success of Cian Ducrot’s chart-topping album “Victory.”

Ducrot is currently working as the assistant to Professor Raphael Oleg at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel, and is co-founder and artistic director of the Vittorio Veneto Chamber Music Festival.

Fiachra de hOra, viola

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Fiachra de hOra received his bachelor degree from the Conservatory of Amsterdam in 2023 studying with Nobuko Imai and Marjolein Dispa. He continues his studies at the Musik Akademie Basel studying with Silvia Simionescu.

He has appeared at the Westport and Ortús Chamber Music Festivals, and was invited to take part in the Clandeboye Festival in 2021. He has taken part in the Prussia Cove Masterclasses and Open Chamber Music sessions in recent years.

Fiachra will give a solo recital at the West Wicklow Festival in 2025. He has performed solo with the Ulster Orchestra, Camerata Ireland, CvA Symphony Orchestra and the orchestra of the AKSS Music Academy in Greece, and gave a sold-out recital at Ireland’s National Concert Hall.

He won 3rd prize and the audience prize at the 5th National Dutch Viola Competition. He was also awarded a special prize at the Irish Heritage Music Bursary in 2024.

Fiachra plays on a modern Irish viola made by Bertrand Galen in 2017 supported by Music Network Ireland.

Paul Grennan, cello

Irish cellist Paul Grennan spent his childhood roaming the fields and beaches of County Wicklow. After studying at the RIAM he was accepted to the RNCM following masterclasses and a personal recommendation from the renowned cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. Whilst at the RNCM, Paul won the John Baribirolli Cello Prize, received second place in the Premio Francesco Geminiani in Verona while also receiving scholarships and a Music Education Award from the MBF.

He has given chamber music recitals throughout Europe and worked on a personal basis with composers such as Kurt Schwertsik, Alexander Goehr, James MacMillan and Colin Matthews. Paul has performed chamber and solo works by James MacMillan and quartets and works for Cello and Piano by Goehr at the Wigmore Hall in London.

As well as being a member of the wonderful Hallé cello section, Paul freelances with orchestras throughout the UK and Ireland including the The BBC Philharmonic, RLPO, Irish Chamber Orchestra, RSNO, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and more. He is currently on trial for principal cello with the RTE Concert Orchestra in Dublin. Paul has toured Asia, USA, Australia and Europe with various classical and pop groups as well completing a residency in the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts with the contemporary ensemble Psappha.

As a soloist, Paul has performed at the Stockhausen Festival and Minimalist Festival at the Onassis Cultural Centre in Athens as well as performing at the Barbican Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a production of Max Richter's Memoryhouse.