Aisling O'Dea

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Aisling began to play the violin at the age of nine. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London with Professor Maurice Hasson, completing a BMus (Performance) Degree in 1995, and then went on to complete two years of further study at the “Hans Eisler” Hochschule für Musik in Berlin with Professors Stefan Piacard and Michael Erxleben.

During her 11 years in Germany, she played with many different ensembles including the Kammerphilharmonie, Bremen and was a member of Ensemble “Oriol”, Berlin, performing regularly in Berlin’s Philharmonie Hall. In 2000, she became a member of the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Frankfurt (RSO Frankfurt) and was with the RSO until 2007 when she was appointed a position with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Aisling was the winner of the String section in R.T.E.’s Young Musician of the Future Competition in 1994, performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto in G minor with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (NSO) broadcast live on Irish television and radio (RTE). Since then, she has returned to play with the NSO on a number of occasions, most recently performing Beethoven’s Romance in F and Sibelius’ Humoresques No 1 and 2 with live broadcast on RTE LyricFM.

A keen chamber musician, Aisling was a member of the String Sextet of the Radio Orchestra of Frankfurt with whom she has made numerous broadcasts both in Germany and abroad, and also a CD recording of Hans Kößler String Quintet and Sextet on the CPO.label.

She is a founding member of the Eblana Ensemble, a chamber ensemble based in Ireland with whom she performs regularly around the country; the most recent tour of nine concerts in May 2009. Aisling is also a founding member of the Artisan Piano Trio based in Edinburgh.

No rehearsal is complete without a regular cappuccino (no chocolate on the top!) and in her spare time Aisling likes to go running particularly around one of her favourite places in Edinburgh, Arthur’s Seat. There’s no better way to clear away the cobwebs.