David Adams

Dr. David Adams is the Head of Early Music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM), where he lectures in Harpsichord, Organ, and Historical Performance. He holds a PhD from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (2007) and advanced diplomas from institutions in Freiburg and Amsterdam. A renowned performer, Adams specializes in organ, early music, and contemporary repertoire, with international recitals and festival engagements. He has premiered numerous compositions and collaborated with orchestras such as the Ulster Orchestra and Irish Baroque Orchestra. As a conductor, he has led performances with Opera Theatre Company and the Orchestra of St Cecilia. His discography includes solo organ recordings and contributions to Naxos, Black Box, and Wergo labels.

Adams’ academic work focuses on the intersection of organ performance and historical interpretation, exemplified by his doctoral research on Max Reger and Karl Straabe. He has taught at conservatories in Freiburg, Berlin, The Hague, Trinity College Dublin, and DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. Active in academia, he has judged international competitions and delivers masterclasses globally. His dual role as organist at Christ Church Taney and St. Nahi’s in Dublin underscores his commitment to liturgical music.

• Education: PhD (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Solisten Dip (Freiburg), UM (Amsterdam), ARCM, LRIAM, FRCO, BA
• Performance Highlights: Debut at St. Paul’s Cathedral (age 16), collaborations with all Irish orchestras, and festival appearances across Europe
• Research: Specializes in 19th- and 20th-century organ repertoire and its performance practice