David Downes

• Name — David Downes • Birthplace — Dublin, Ireland • Occupation — composer, musical director • Known for — Riverdance, Celtic Woman • Notable Works — original songs for Celtic Woman • Awards — Emmy nomination

David Downes was born in Dublin, Ireland. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin where he studied Music and Composition. He has performed at venues around the world, including Boston Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall and Wembley Arena, appearing with soloists James Galway and Alan Stivell, the group Boyzone, and the Washington Symphony, Moravian Philharmonic, Hollywood Studio Symphony and National Symphony orchestras. He has made recordings with Moya Brennan, Clannad, Michael Crawford, Michael W. Smith and Bill Whelan. He has acted as orchestrator for Riverdance on Broadway and Secret Garden most notably. He joined Riverdance where he was Music Director on Broadway, as well as for the American and European touring companies. Later he and Sharon Browne formed 'Celtic Woman', which has toured across the world with platinum recordings in the US, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and major following in Asia, Europe and South America. He acted as musical director for Irish President Mary McAleese's Inauguration in 2004. He has performed for U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He recently composed a new contemporary work for piano, cello and spoken word in collaboration with poet Adam Wyeth, entitled there will be no silence, which was performed and recorded by Rolf Hind, Adrian Mantu and actors Aisling O'Sullivan and Owen Roe.

Downes has written many original songs for Celtic Woman, including: The Soft Goodbye, Send Me a Song, One World, The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun, At the Céili, Sing Out!, Granuaile's Dance, The Lost Rose Fantasia, The Blessing, The Call, Green the Whole Year Round, Walking The Night and Tabhair Dom Do Lamh. The lyricists with whom he has collaborated most frequently are Caitríona Ní Dhúill, Barry McCrea, Shay Healy and Brendan Graham.

In 2007, Downes helped former Celtic Woman member Hayley Westenra to record The Last Rose of Summer for her album Treasure. The song was sung as a duet by Westenra and another member of Celtic Woman, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, while Downes led the orchestra. He has worked with singer Bryan Adams through his foundation.