LAWRENCE O'DONNELL

Lawrence O’Donnell from Scone started playing the bassoon at Perth Academy aged 12 with Philip Alexander and played in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Whilst studying with Janet Bloxwich at the RSAMD Junior department Lawrence won the Gilbert Innes prize for woodwind, then went on to study with Graham Sheen, Meyrick Alexander and Dan Jemison at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He then went on to study at the Royal College of Music with Julie Price, Andrea de Flaminneis and Joost Bosdijk where he won the RCM Bassoon Prize and was generously supported by the Martin Musical Trust and Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship.

As a soloist Lawrence has appeared in China with the Amadeus Orchestra, France with Ensemble Cordiale, Greece with the Paxos Festival Ensemble, Italy with the Guildhall Chamber Orchestra and Talinn and Edinburgh with Perth Youth Orchestra. Lawrence has performed recitals at the Royal Festival Hall and Perth Festival of the Arts.

Lawrence is a keen chamber musician and has appeared at the Wigmore Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral and the Barbican and has taken part in the Cheltenham Festival Academy and Paxos Music Festival.

Lawrence’s professional experience includes the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera. Lawrence has appeared as guest principal with the Symphony Orchestra of India, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently on trial for principal bassoon with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.