John McDonough
Oboe
John McDonough studied the oboe at the London College of Music with Elizabeth Fyfe (Royal Opera House) and later Chris Cowie (Philharmonia). He graduated with Honours and won a scholarship for further studies winning the 1994 Woodwind Prize and being awarded the Henry Bromley-Derry Prize for all-round musicianship.
John is currently Principal oboist with the Malta Philharmonic and has performed several concertos including the Bach Double Concerto, Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, Albinoni D minor and Vivaldi Double Oboe concerto. He has been guest Principal with The European Union Chamber Orchestra and the Urals State Chamber Orchestra. He reguarly performs chamber music recitals with the Cosmos Wind Ensemble, performing in Canada, Germany, The Netherlands and Australia as well as Malta and Oboe-Harp Duo in Italy with harpist Donata Mattei.
Recent interest in Early Music and study of the baroque oboe with Katharina Spreckelsen and Andreas Helm and also recorder with Rebecca Miles have led him to play baroque oboe with the English Concert under Harry Bickett and to record works by Gabrielli and Monteverdi with the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble (VIBE).
John has recorded music by maltese composers including Sinfonia in Re by Francesco Azopardi (1748-1809) and Chamber music by Joseph Vella( Hagar Qim and Prizma.) In March 2015 he recorded a complete CD of Maltese Music ( Charles Camilleri, Veronique Vella, Albert Garzia and Ruben Zahra)with the Cosmos Wind Ensemble. He has also recorded music by British composers Robin Milford (1903-1959) Suite for oboe and strings and Concertino for oboe and strings by Walter Gaze Cooper (1895-1981) on the Cameo-classics label. www.cameo-classics.com
John has taught oboe at the London College of Music Junior Department and the Johann Strauss School of Music, he is also a wind tutor for the Malta Youth Orchestra. Apart from his work as a performer and instrumental teacher, he has transcribed over 40 works – Warlock Capriol Suite and Mozart Serenade no 10, both for Wind Quintet are published by Cramer Music, London.