Stephen Kelly is Sub-Principal percussionist with the RTE Concert Orchestra and
Lecturer in Percussion at the Cork School of Music. As a percussionist/ timpanist he
has performed with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Philharmonia
Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, Opera
Theatre Company, Wexford Opera Festival Orchestra, Crash Ensemble and the Irish Film Orchestra.
He has performed with Lalo Schifrin, Marvin Hamlisch, Jon Lord, John Scofield, Vince Mendoza, Luka Bloom, Declan O’Rourke, The Chieftains, Alan Bergman, Ute Lemper, Andrea Corr, Imelda May, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and many others.
Since 2004, Stephen has been Lecturer of Percussion CIT Cork School of Music http://csm.cit.ie where he teaches grade, B.Mus and Masters level students. He is director of the school’s senior percussion ensemble and he is also the leader of the CIT Carnival Samba band. Every year he organises a day of percussion in the school, see www.facebook.com/CSMDAYOFPERCUSSION for more details. Other educational activities include work for the National Concert Hall’s Learn & Explore program, & the London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic
and Philharmonia Orchestra’s education departments.
As a chamber musician he has performed at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival & Kaleidoscope Night. He runs the Steve Kelly Big Band, & is the drummer with the jazz groups “Crossbones” and “The Bones of Cork.” As a studio musician he has appeared on albums with Altan, Sharon Shannon, Julie Feeney, Phil Coulter & Declan O’Rourke and on Radio, Television, and the RTE Lyric FM & Naxos record labels with the RTE Concert Orchestra, RTE National Symphony Orchestra, the Irish Film Orchestra and the Orchestra of the National Concert Hall.
Stephen holds a B.Mus degree from the Royal College of Music, London, and an M.Mus
from the DIT Conservatory of Music.