Alan Smale

Alan Smale is one of Ireland's most distinguished performing musicians, with a professional career spanning 50 years. A native of Torquay, Devon, he began his violin studies at the age of 9 with Harold Petts, a pupil of Albert Sammons, and he went on to study at the City of Leeds College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, London, for 6 years from the age of 16. On moving to Ireland as co-leader of the then RTE Symphony Orchestra in 1977, Alan continued to freelance with many orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Sinfonietta and the Scottish Opera Orchestra. Alan was leader of the RTE Concert Orchestra (1984-93) and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (1994-2013). Since it's formation in 2015 he has regularly led the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.

As leader of The Irish Film Orchestra (1992-2015) Alan performed on the soundtracks of many Irish and International films, working closely with composers including Bill Whelan, Elmer Bernstein, Michael Small, Randy Edelman and Dario Marianelli. The IFO also recorded with Van Morrison, Kate Bush, The Chieftains, U2, The Corrs, Daniel O'Donnell, and many other Irish and international artists. In 1995 Alan led the string section for the album release of Bill Whelan's score for 'Riverdance'.

As soloist, Alan has performed and broadcast over 20 violin concertos, and his commercial recordings include the concertos of James Wilson, Raymond Deane and Jerome de Bromhead, as well as numerous solo and chamber works, mostly of contemporary Irish music.

Alan is founder and director of The Degani Ensemble, which has appeared at music clubs and festivals throughout Ireland, with frequent concerts at the National Concert Hall. In 2015 he founded the Degani Piano Trio with pianist Rachel Quinn and 'cellist Annette Cleary. To date they have released three albums of classical and romantic piano trios. Their most recent, 'Tangos of Astor Piazzolla', was released in 2022.

Alan has a long association as guest leader with the Ulster Orchestra, Wexford Sinfonia and many choral societies in Dublin and Wicklow. He plays on a fine Venician violin made in 1896 by Eugenio Degani.