Obituary: Brian Connor
9th January, 2025
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has learned with great sadness of the death of Brian Connor, pianist, producer, arranger and composer, who died on 28th December 2024.
Brian studied piano with Professor John O’Conor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. He was Musical Director in London’s West End, Chicago and on Broadway, and was Musical Director of ‘Riverdance – The Show’ and the National Theatre of Ireland’s centenary celebrations – ‘Abbey100’.
A major focus of his career was his collaborations with singers, having performed and recorded with artists such as Sinead O’Connor, Agnes Bernelle, Van Morrison, Christie Hennessy, Ramin Karimloo and jazz vocalist Claire Martin.
He produced albums for singers in Ireland, Norway and Germany, and produced the album ‘Yola’ for Irish singer/songwriter Eleanor McEvoy which was awarded ‘UK Hi Fi Album of the Year’. For Norwegian artist Tom Aadland he produced ‘Blod pa Spora’ a reworking of Bob Dylan’s classic album ‘Blood On the Tracks’ in Nynorsk – the traditional language of Norway.
In 2020 he co produced a concert of music by Leonard Cohen with orchestra, soloists & actors for RTE/Bord Gais and produced the music soundtrack for RTE TVs newly commissioned contemporary dance piece ‘I Am Ireland’ broadcast on Culture Night.