Sean O'Neill

Sean O’Neill was Principal Tuba with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera for a period of 25 years and was the first tuba player to successfully integrate the “Cimbasso” into UK orchestras.

Following this period, Sean enjoyed a successful freelance career working throughout the United Kingdom with many of the country’s major orchestras before taking up a fulltime teaching post with Gwent Music in 2006 and subsequently progressing to Head of both Wind and Brass Departments.

Throughout his professional playing career, Sean has developed a parallel career in music education and has held teaching positions at Wells Cathedral School, Monmouth School, Cardiff University as well as both Junior College at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the main College.

He has been a guest tutor to the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, guest conductor of the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales and has directed Welsh County Youth Wind Orchestras to perform in major music festivals in Carnegie Hall, New York on three occasions, twice featuring world premier performances with euphonium virtuoso, David Childs.

Sean is presently continuing his career as tuba tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, freelance Music Consultant, Educator and Ensemble Director.