Adrian Finnerty

BA(Hons), MMus, MA(Mus), MA(Ed), MSc, DipTMus, DipABRSM, ALCM, FISM

For further information contact: info@adrianfinnerty.co.uk

Adrian Finnerty is a freelance musician, teacher, lecturer, composer, pianist, organist and examiner. A former Head of Music and Head of Creative Arts, with responsibility for Music, Art and Design and Drama, he has also been responsible for co-ordinating and delivering a variety of staff development activities, workshops and in-service courses for teachers, as well as being the Principal Assessor for Higher Music with the Scottish Qualifications Authority. As a guest speaker he gives talks on a range of music and education related subjects. He is also a church organist, writer on music and musicologist, as well a teaching piano and music theory privately.

Performing experience includes: playing piano and accompanying soloists and various ensembles for concerts, festivals and examinations; playing the organ regularly for church services, including weddings and other special occasions; and conducting amateur choirs, orchestras and musical theatre groups. As a composer his work covers a wide spectrum, including; piano solo, choral, orchestral and electro-acoustic. He studied composition with John Maxwell Geddes at St. Andrew’s College of Education, and with Edward Harper and Nigel Osborne at the University of Edinburgh.

Compositions include; Griminish Point, Conveyance and Saltire Sinfonietta (orchestral), Lay of the Last Minstrel, Balulalow, The Fastest Man On Earth and Pattern of Life (choral), Fanfare Academica and Unseen Vision (chamber), Strata Shift and Night Lift-off (electro-acoustic), High-Rise Hallowe’en and Rawley’s Patch (musicals), Contretemps and Kaprun (piano) and various settings of liturgical texts.

Academic qualifications include; BA(Hons) in Music and Arts, MA in Music and MA in Education from the Open University; MMus in Composition, Jazz and 20th Century Music from the University of Edinburgh, MSc in Practitioner Research from the University of Strathclyde; DipTMus (Diploma in the Teaching of Music) from St. Andrew's College of Education, DipABRSM (Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) in piano teaching, and the ALCM (Associate Diploma of the London College of Music) in piano performing.

Adrian is also a Fellow of the Independent Society of Musicians (FISM), as well as being a member of the European Piano Teachers’ Association, and the Guild of Church Musicians.

Adrian’s musical interests include: the History of Western Music; European Music and Culture; National Identity in Music; Scandinavian and Russian Music; 20th Century Music; Scottish Music; Music in Britain; Film Music; Music and Art; Jazz; Music Education; Piano, Organ and Choral Music; Composing, Arranging and Conducting. He has contributed articles and reviews to the Musical Times, the British Journal of Music Education, Music Journal, The Hebridean Times and local newspapers, as well as writing Study Guides for National 5 Music, Higher Music, and Advanced Higher Music, published by Bright Red. Click on the images below for further details:

Meeting conductor Stéphane Denève, following his Debussy recording with the RSNO.	Chatting to conductor Peter Oundjian, on his appointment as Music Director with the RSNO.	Having dinner with writer and broadcaster John Suchet, following the publication of his book Beethoven: The Man Revealed.

To find out more about Adrian Finnerty’s work as a teacher, lecturer, pianist, organist or composer just click on the appropriate link on the left hand side.

For advice on looking for a piano teacher, or practising, just click on Teacher

For advice on looking for an organist, or choosing music for a wedding, just click on Organist

For further information contact: info@adrianfinnerty.co.uk