Bio

Maria O’Dea is an Irish Bassoonist studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She began studying bassoon under the tuition of John Hearne in the Conservatoire of TUDublin. At fifteen she became a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and took part many in orchestral projects in TUDublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM). In 2021, Maria graduated from RIAM with a Diploma in Music Teaching and Performing. Since then, she completed her undergraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, under the tuition of Daniel Jemison, Helen Storey, and Richard Ion, with great thanks to the generous support of the Timothy Gee Scholarship. She is now a scholar student on the Orchestra Artistry Postgraduate course in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra.

During her time at Guildhall, Maria has immersed herself in music-making. Performing highlights of her degree include principal bassoon with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra for multiple concerts including Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony, and Prokovief’s Romeo and Juliet, Guildhall Opera Productions Die Fleidermaus and Dead man Walking, BBC Total Immersion Frank Zappa Concert and Milton Court’s 10 Year Anniversary Concert. An avid chamber musician, Maria is a member of the Guildhall Wind Soloists where their most recent performance included a series of chamber workshops at Winchester College. She is a member of the emerging ensemble Setanta Winds, who specialise in ‘music in the classroom’. Having played in multiple chamber groups throughout the years, Maria’s performed works such as Poulenc’s Sextet and Trio, Nielsen’s Wind Quintet and Barber’s Summer Music along with premiering works by the Guildhall Composing department.

Outside of Guildhall, Maria has had the pleasure of working with many orchestras, including deputy principal bassoon with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and co-deputy bassoon with Ulster Orchestra. In her third year of undergraduate studies, she secured a place in Ulster Orchestra’s Professional Experience Scheme where she had the privilege of playing alongside the orchestra throughout the year, receiving one-to-one tutorship with their musicians and involvement in the orchestra’s outreach work such as their Crescendo workshop scheme. Maria has most recently been accepted to the Berlin Opera Academy where she will be principal bassoon for Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute.

Maria has built a strong name for herself as a soloist and was awarded the Rising Stars Solo Recital at the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival alongside pianist Luke Lally Maguire in 2024. The duo also took part in Feis Cecil 2024, securing 1st place at the Elsner Memorial Cup. She performed the Andre Previn Bassoon Sonata at the Wigmore Hall as a finalist of the Irish Hertiage Music Bursaries. This year she was a finalist in the prestigious Needlemaker’s Prize. During her time at Guildhall, Maria has been selected for masterclasses with renowned bassoonists, Theo Plath, Bence Boganyi, Fanny Maselli, Vahan Khourdoian, and Roberto Giaccaglia.

Maria is currently teaching in London and is passionate about accessible musical education for children.

Teaching Info

Bassoon Lessons:

– One to one lessons focusing on technique and musicality on the bassoon through the stucture of Grade examinations

– Lesson structure can vary based off student preference and age e.g lots of sing and play involved with beginners and well as general music pedagogy

– I always try to bring my bassoon to lessons and love playing alongside students and encourage performances

-Provide recommendations to ensembles, orchestras and music groups for students to get involved with