Terence O'donohue

Terence O’Donohue trained in piano and voice at Kelvin Grove Teachers’ College and then undertook the piano performance stream at the Conservatorium of music where he was regarded as a pianist of “facile technique”. Since then he has performed major works for piano solo, trio and other combinations such as piano concertos by Rachmaninov, Tschaikowsky and Beethoven in numerous small concerts. Terence has taught piano and music since 1980 and harbours a curiosity about piano technique and methods of teaching and a philosophical interest in education in general.

Terence’s love of music extends into many areas outside the classical repertoire, including ethnic, folk and jazz. He writes and arranges music and has led and participated in a number of mixed groups that have appeared at the Woodford/Maleny Folk Festivals. Previously Terence has played mandolin, double bass and Chinese instruments in Irish, Jewish and Chinese ensembles respectively as well as double bass in comedy groups and his own quirky music ensembles such as “His Mistress’s Voice”, a string quintet with vocalist. Terence also conducts choirs, directs theatrical groups, sings opera and organises musical/theatrical events. His productions have ranged from his adaptation of an excerpt from “The Marriage of Figaro” to community-based productions of “Henry V” and “The Merchant of Venice”.

Currently Terence plays violin in the Amadeus Orchestra, writes songs and arrangements for choirs, conducts the Swiss Yodelling Choir and teaches piano and sight singing. He is an accomplished pianist and musician with extensive experience that runs the full gamut of musical genres: singing punk in pubs to Christmas carols in the mall, playing bush-band mandolin in “Cloudland” to Chinese music in Art galleries; accompanying exams for AMEB to piano performances in City Hall; conducting choirs from renaissance to multicultural. For over thirty years he has been actively engaged in and contributed substantially to the music life of many communities.