Academic Studies
Dr David O'Shea
Lecturer
Email: david.oshea@TUDublin.ie
PhD, MMus, BMus, FRCO, LTCL
Dr David O'Shea was educated at the TU Dublin Conservatoire, where he studied the piano with Shirin Goudarzi-Tobin and Mary Lennon, and completed a Bachelor of Music degree in Musicology. He undertook postgraduate studies at the University of Cambridge (leading to a Masters in Music) and Trinity College Dublin (leading to a PhD). He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
David’s musical background is as a keyboard player, and he is an experienced organist, harpsichordist, piano accompanist and choral conductor. Before his appointment to TU Dublin, David taught in several other institutions, including Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. His main teaching interests are history of music, stylistic composition, performance practice studies and practical musicianship.
Outside his academic work, David is active as an organ recitalist, and has for many years been organist of Sandford Parish Church and St. Philip’s Milltown in south Dublin.
Research/Performance Interests and Expertise
David’s main area of interest is musical performance in the long nineteenth century. He is particularly interested in the relationship between music and national identity, the evolution of performance styles, and the development of music in the Anglican liturgy. His book, The Choral Foundation of the Chapel Royal, Dublin Castle, 1814–1922 was published by the Boydell Press in 2023.
He has given public lectures and presented conference papers on a wide variety of topics, including the music of composers Louis Vierne, Lili Boulanger (with Dr Rachel Talbot), Craig Sellar Lang, Charles Wood, and Charles Villiers Stanford, and the history of music in the Church of Ireland, and the relationship between music and political identity in nineteenth-century Ireland.
David is an experienced solo organist, and has given recitals in Ireland, the UK, continental Europe and the USA. Highlights include an all-Irish solo organ recital at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, and performances at the Dudelange Organ Festival (Luxembourg), Sinsinawa Dominican Centre (Wisconsin, USA) and at the cathedrals in Dublin, Armagh and Kilkenny.
Professional Affiliations / External Engagements
David is an active member of the Royal College of Organists, of which he is a Fellow. He is Education and Outreach Officer with Pipeworks, the Dublin international organ and choral festival. He is a member of the Executive Committee of Church Music Dublin, an agency of the Church of Ireland diocese, for which he co-designed the Archbishop’s Certificate in Church Music syllabus. He is also experienced as an organ adviser, and has consulted on a number of organ renovation projects around Ireland.