Colman Pearce

Who is Colman Pearce?

Colman Pearce is an Irish pianist and conductor.

Born in 1938 in Dublin Pearce was educated at the University College Dublin, he studied conducting in Hilversum and Vienna. He became a conductor for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in the late 1960s as well as being musical director for the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest and then conducting the 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975 Irish entries. He became a principal conductor for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in 1981 until retiring in 1983. He became a principal guest conductor of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra from 1984-1987. From 1987 to 1999 he was principal conductor and music director of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and, in his final year, was the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in the State of Mississippi. He was also made a Freeman of the City of New Orleans. Colman is also principal guest conductor of the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra.