Composer, musician and choir director, Peadar Ó Riada’s other interests include film directing and production, bee-keeping, painting, writing, alternative medicine, culture and traditions of different peoples and history. He believes in the culture of the individual rather than the culture of the masses. Peadar has lived his life in Cuil Aodha near the Cork-Kerry border where he raised his family with his wife Geraldine Moloney. He’s the director Cór Cúil Aodha since 1971and graduated UCC B.Mus in 1976. He has composed extensively for Cór Cúil Aodha and has accumulated a large body of liturgical and secular works in the idiom of Male Voiced Choir in the Irish traditional idiom. His orchestral work includes: Concerto for pipes, song cycles and chorale work etc. His compositions for Female choir are polyphonic and include several large works as well as choral arrangements for traditional Irish songs.
His body of traditional Irish Dance music compositions has made its way into the main stream of Irish music and are recorded by many artists in this genre. There is music for films, theatre plays, events, mini operas, solo piano, organ and harpsichord compositions and recordings and experimental works with found sound and electronics.
He founded the Hedge School University Acadamh Fódhla, the Trust Iontaoibheas Fódhla, The Festival Féile na Laoch and the women’s choir Cór Ban Cúil Aodha. He is a founding member of Triúr with Martin Hayes and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and The Drôle with John Kelly and Eamon McGivney. He is a constant broadcaster. Awards include TG4 Composer of the year 2008, Gradam an Oireachtais, Gradam Francie Mooney amongst others. He has published books, articles and lectures, including Amhránnaíocht Dúchas na nGael on Irish indegenueus singing.
http://www.peadaroriada.ie/