Brian O’Neill is a NYC and Boston-based classical, jazz, and world percussionist

Brian O’Neill: versatile percussionist, composer, bandleader

Cambridge, MA / New York, NY
347.482.1775
brian@crashandboom.com Twitter: @orchestrotica

“Brian O'Neill isn't just a great musician, he's also a first-rate composer.”—Tony Sachs, Huffington Post

“2011 Rising Star Big Band…incredible arrangements, musicianship and artistic direction…” —Frank Alyer, DOWNBEAT

“…If John Zorn is an exotica Picasso, O'Neill is his Georges-Braque counterpart in cubism's transposition to music...and may be...a stronger exoticist than Zorn.…” —Gordon Marshall, AllAboutJazz

Notable Performances

Guest artist, Northern Arizona University Percussion Ensemble. Premiered Chris Vennel's "Losing the Shackles" for percussion soloist (vibes, snare drum, riq, pandeiro) and percussion ensemble.
April 2011.
Percussionist with Donna Summer's Crayons Tour
Performances in Gilford, NH and Boston, MA. 2008.
The Festival de México
Led my 22-pc big band, Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica at Mexico's most prestigious arts festival presenting my transcriptions of the lost arrangements of Juan Garcia Esquivel. 2006. more...
Boston Pops "WGBH Orchestra"
Section percussionist in freelance orchestra led by Pat Hollenbeck (Boston Pops) at the opening ceremonies of WGBH TV's new studios. 2007.
Hawaii International Jazz Festival
Martin Denny tribute concert with WAITIKI and Gabe Baltazar (Stan Kenton Orchestra). 2005.
Carnegie Hall, NYC
Performance of "Yellow River Cantata" with Newton Symphony Orchestra. 2002.
Solo appearances: Sun Cities Symphony of the West Valley (Sun City, AZ) & Northern Arizona University Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ)
Winner of the Jennings Butterfield Young Artist Competition and NAU Orchestra Competition with Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Vibraphone and Orchestra. 1999.
Additional notable performances:
Northern soul artists: Archie Bell and the Drells, The Del-Larks, Laura Lee. Ernesto Diaz (percussionist, various). Peter Erskine (drummer). Wallace Roney (trumpet). Arizona Opera Orchestra, Flagstaff Symphony, Flagstaff Festival of the Arts Orchestra.

Recent ensembles and performances

Notable festivals

Orchestral percussion freelancing:

Musical Theater (drumset & percussion)

About my group (Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica)

“…percussion master and musical polymath…borrowing themes from Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, Mr. Ho [Brian] has created his own rigorous classical-jazz hybrid. Are you listening, Keith Lockhart?” Boston Phoenix

“…serious jazz and chamber music writing…” Bob Young, Boston Herald

“…Brian O'Neill's group…may be one of the most inventive jazz groups running…” BlogCritics Music (I Hear Sparks)

Jazz, world, chamber, eclectic, pop ensembles

About The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel

“…4 stars…exquisite attention to details” Sunday Times London

“…deliciously demented and entertaining in equal parts.…” Wall Street Journal

Discography

TV & Radio Performances

Electronics/Digital Music Production

Awards

Teaching

Earlier Performances (Arizona, 1995-1999)

Orchestral

  • Sun Cities Symphony of the West Valley (Sun City, AZ): winner of the 1999 Jennings Butterfield Young Artist Competition with Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Vibraphone and Orchestra, Spring 1999
  • Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ): principal percussion, 1997-1999; section percussion, 1995-1997
  • Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ): student representative for the Orchestra Committee, 1998-1999
  • Flagstaff Festival of the Arts Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ): section percussion, Summer 1997
  • Man of La Mancha Pit Orchestra (Northern Arizona University Performing Arts Presentations, professional production in Flagstaff, AZ) percussion, May-Jun 1997
  • Arizona Opera Company (Flagstaff, AZ): section percussion for Wagner’s "Ring Cycle" Orchestra, May-Jun 1996, May-Jun 1998
  • Northern Arizona University Centennial Celebration Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ): section percussion, Jun 1998
  • Sun City Symphony Orchestra (Sun City, AZ): substitute percussionist, Feb 1997-1999
  • Master Chorale of Flagstaff (Flagstaff, AZ): section percussion, Dec 1995, Dec 1996, Dec 1997
  • Mesa Symphony Orchestra (Mesa, AZ): substitute percussionist, 1995 -July 1996

Education

Professional Affiliations

References

Available on request.

Pat Hollenbeck

Percussionist and arranger, Boston Pops
President of Boston Musicians Local 9-535, American Federation of Music
617.212.9840
patorch@msn.com

Nancy Zeltsman

Marimbist & Professor
Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory
Boston, MA
617.825.7799
nancy@nancyzeltsman.com

Dr. Steven Hemphill

Professor & Director of Percussion Studies
Northern Arizona University
School of Performing Arts
Box 6040
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
520-523-3739
Steven.Hemphill@nau.edu