Cellist Gerry Kelly began his musical studies with his father TC Kelly in Clongowes Wood.
He subsequently studied in Germany, with the legendary French ‘cellist Paul Tortellier.
He has performed in Europe, the US, Canada and Japan.
He is the managing director of the Cork Pops Orchestra. (www.corkpops.ie) (Conductor – Evelyn Grant)
They provide a music entertainment service ranging from quartets for weddings to orchestral concerts for schools.
He has been active as a patron and promoter of concerts both nationally and internationally since 1982.
He served as a board member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland for over thirty years. He has provided entertainment for practically every major festival since Cork 800 in 1985.
He is the founder/director of the Cork City String quartet, which specialises in music for weddings and corporate events.
Gerry Kelly is a former lecturer at the Cork School of Music (1978-2009) and active campaigner for music education. He was centrally involved in the political campaign for the new CIT Cork School of Music.
He has embraced Social Media , which can be detected by his digital footprints! He has a keen interest in video and photography, which he uses to promote mainly music and arts related events and engage with the world at large.
He has recently learnt how to sail and manage an allotment to the amusement of his family and colleagues.
With fellow Common Purpose graduate Dr. Andrew Crosbie he has revived the Lord Mayor’s annual Tea Dance for ‘The Young at Heart’ . This dance in City Hall, Cork attracts a capacity audience and is run in conjunction with the voluntary assistance of Common Purpose graduates from every year.
He is married to Evelyn Grant ( lecturer and broadcaster) and they have 4 children, Jean Kelly, Stephen Kelly, Eoghan Kelly and Fiona Kelly.- all of whom are accomplished international professional musicians, who work in the classical, jazz and folk fields.
Gerry Kelly specialises in Weddings, Corporate Events, Music Promotion, Event Management and Music for Funerals.
