donal donnelly

     musician

 

 

 

 

"Innovative and energetic" is how best to describe Donal Donnelly - one of many contemporary musicians to emerge from the Leeds College of Music. Originally from Portrush, Co Antrim in Northern Ireland, Donal graduated from college in 1995 after serving in the Royal Navy as a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) with a Graduate Diploma in Jazz and Pop Music, studying saxophone with Phil Chapman and Al Woods. 

 

Since then, Donal's career has gone from strength to strength, from entertaining at dances and weddings and playing in big bands, to providing back-up to major recording artists and touring in well known theatre productions. 

 

Multi-instrumental, he plays flute, clarinet, piano and, of course, his main instrument saxophone - including soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. 

 

His many credits include;

· Touring with the theatre production Rave On under the direction of producer John Redgrave, featuring Jeff Turton (2 number 1 UK hits with the Rockin' Berries) and Terry Webster (Jive Bunny, Who Do You Do, Rockin' Berries)

· Featured saxophonist on the UK touring show The Berries Connection (Terry Webster and Jeff Turton)

· As a sideman he has worked with;

o The legendary Roy Wood (I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday, Blackberry Way and too many others to mention)

o John Shepard and Fred White from the Grammy-nominated band Acoustic Alchemy

o Tim Woodcock aka Tim Daniel – song-writer and producer (Blue, Steps, Billy Piper)

o James Russel, saxophonist, composer and producer (Jason Donovan)

o Richard Blanchard, arranger and band leader (Peter Grant, Joe Longthorne, The Cat Pack)

O  Jim Whitley Ex Manchester City and Northern Ireland International Footballer turned singer and a fine artist see www.jimwhitley.com

o The Rat Pack Boys

o … and many, many more!

 

Donal is currently working with  The Cat Pack (www.thecatpack.co.uk), one of the UK’s leading Rhythm and Blues Orchestras, who have already supported Chuck Berry and Little Richard, Donal plays first tenor sax, and has just completed a six year tour with The Rat Pack Show with the worst band leader ever to walk the planet.

 

Donal is a busy music teacher, tutoring students privately and at the Leeds College of Music.

A list of all the ensembles taught can be found on the tuition page

 

In 2005, Donal also featured in the BBC’s Honey, We’re Killing the Kids.

 

Donal is also busy running his own studio – Enfused Records – writing, arranging, producing and performing his first album Heartfelt,  released in 2008 it has sold copies as far as Tokyo, Australia and USA, In 2009 Donal entered two of his songs into the UK Songwriting Contest finishing in the semi finals in both categories, and reaching the final in 2010 and 2011, also in 2011 Donal produced a song written by singer songwriter Alex Parker-Nicholls that also reached the semi finals .Donal  also has many duet books and  saxophone arrangements for sale from his online store

 

To see a list of recordings, conducting credits, discography and other details, see discography