Already well known for his career as concert organist, which has taken him all over Europe, as well as to the USA, Canada and Australia, Colm Carey has more recently been focussing on choral conducting. His imaginative and stimulating programming led to the formation of the Odyssean Ensemble.

Master of Music of the Chapels Royal, HM Tower of London, Carey directs the choir in the two historic Chapels Royal and in regular concerts. Together they toured in South Africa, Italy and Ireland, released recordings, and broadcast music ranging from medieval times to contemporary commissions.

Born in Dublin, Carey began his musical career as a choirboy in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork; he won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London and, subsequently, at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, where he won top performing awards. From 2003 to 2016 he was Belfast City Organist, curating the famous Mulholland Grand Organ in the Ulster Hall, and performing many recitals and concerti, including those of Poulenc, Parker, Handel, Haydn, Rheinberger, Jongen, Leighton and Guilmant. Many of his perfor- mances from the Ulster Hall were broadcast, and in 2005 he wrote and presented four programmes on the history of the organ for the BBC radio.

Carey has collaborated with many artists, especially brass players and singers; as recording artist, he has appeared as soloist, chamber musician and director. He was the featured organist on Paul McCartney’s classical album, Ecce Cor Meum, which was premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York. His interpretation of Bach’s The Art of Fugue has been widely admired for its originality and scholarship.