Our orchestra and chorus
We’re proud to attract some of the world’s best talent to our Orchestra and Chorus. We welcome many of them back year after year, and they have repaid us with their outstanding ability to raise our performances to inspiring new levels.
WFO Orchestra
The orchestra plays a pivotal role in bringing our opera performances to life.
Each year a specially assembled festival orchestra join together comprising some of the best soloists, recitalists, chamber musicians and principals from musical ensembles and distinguished orchestras in Ireland and abroad.
Many musicians have been part of the festival for many years and consider this to be their second artistic home.
WFO Principal Guest Conductor Francesco Cilluffo
Wexford Festival Opera’s Principal Guest Conductor is currently Italian Francesco Cilluffo. Cilluffo was appointed in 2020. A graduate of Turin University, Francesco lived and studied in London at GSMD (composition and conducting fellowship, Master in Composition - distinction) and at King’s College (PhD in Composition).
His studies led him to realise that composing and conducting is very much like two sides of the same coin. They are two different yet complementary sides of creativity. His experiences as a conductor span the core Italian operas and choral masterwork to some more unusual works and new commissions, and he feels at home writing as much as conducting opera and vocal music. Francesco is based in Milan but conducted operas last season at The Grange and Opera Holland Park.
WFO 2024 Main Stage Opera Guest Conductors
Le maschere (1901) by Pietro Mascagni , Francesco Gilluffo
The Critic (1916) by Charles Villiers Stanford, Ciarán McAuey
Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (1827) by Gaetano Donizetti, Danila Grassi
For the first time ever, the Festival welcomes a sponsor of the WFO Orchestra, Arachas Insurance Brokers
Strings
First Violin
Fionnuala Hunt, Concertmaster
Lynda O'Connor, Guest Leader
Lara Rosemary O'Sullivan, Co-Principal
Anita Vedres
Brigid Leman
Cillian O'Breachain
Feilimidh Nunan
Emma Masterson
Mathew Whily
Second Violin
Paul O’Hanlon, Principal
Aoife Dowdall, Co-principal
Justyna Dabek
Rachel Du
Robert Mahon
Rachel Masterson
Viola
Adele Johnson, Principal
Cheryl Law, Co-Principal
Carla Vedres
Anthony Mulholland
Giammaria Tesai Palacio
Cello
Adrian Mantu, Principal
Aoife Burke, Co-Principal
Siobhan Lynch
Alona Kliuchka
Double Bass
Dominic Dudley, Principal
Maeve Sheil, Co-Principal
William Hollands
Woodwind and Brass
Flute
Deirdre Brady, Principal
Kieran Moynihan
Naoise O’Briain
Oboe
Aoife McCambridge, Principal
Ben Gannon
Ruth Berresford
Clarinet
Jessie Grimes, Principal
Seamus Whily
Bassoon
Bartosz Kwasecki, Principal
Aidan Murphy
Horn
Hannah Millar, Principal
Dewi Jones
Peter Mullen
Caoimega Lavin
Trumpet
William Palmer, Principal
Eoghan Cooke
Michael Mullin
Trombone
Ross Lyness, Principal
Karl Ronan
Paul Frost
Tuba
Les Neish, Principal
Harp
Dianne Marshall, Principal
Timpani and Percussion
Timpani
Noel Eccles, Principal
Percussion
Patrick Nolan, Principal
John Rouasso
Accordion
Dermot Dunne, Principal
Guitar
Colin McLean, Principal
Orchestra Team
Orchestra Manager
Noel Eccles
Orchestral Assistant
Brian Smith
Orchestra Librarian
Sarah Burn
Assistant Manager
Lloyd Byrne
WFO Chorus
Wexford Festival Opera is internationally recognised as the premier festival of rare operas. For singers, the WFO Chorus offers an unrivalled opportunity to explore more diverse repertoire, the prospect of reviving an opera which has not been performed in modern times, professional experience and international exposure.
The WFO Chorus was formally set up back in 1994, with previous Chorus Masters including Anthony Hose, Myer Freedman, Kenneth Montgomery and Gregory Rose.
The current Festival Chorus Master is Andrew Synott.