Cassiopeia Winds is a group of five of Ireland’s top wind players committed to sharing

their passion for the superb wind quintet repertoire with audiences throughout Ireland.

The players inspire and refresh their audiences by their infectious enthusiasm for the

music they are playing. Members of the group introduce each piece in the programme,

engaging with and developing a rapport with their audience, drawing them in so that

they feel almost like a sixth member of the group.

Cassiopeia Winds was formed in 2010 by five friends with a passion for wind music. In

the past 14 years it has championed the performance of wind quintet music by Irish

composers & when possible has commissioned new works.

The ensemble aims with each performance to run the full and varied gamut of the wind

repertoire from 19th-century to contemporary works. They have a dedication to bringing

the lesser-known works of this repertoire into the Irish and international concert halls

and festivals. Their concerts represent the startling originality and exoticism and the

inimitable palette of tone colours of the wind ensemble.

Cassiopeia Winds are:

Catriona Ryan – Flute

Matthew Manning – Oboe

Deirdre O’Leary – Clarinet

John Hearne – Bassoon

Cormac Ó hAodáin – French Horn