Ciaran O'Donnell

Performance (Clarinet) PGDip

After leaving Belfast to study at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Ciaran accepted every opportunity, both on stage and behind the scenes, to grow as a musician and a leader. Today, he is the Head of Music Service at the City of Wolverhampton Council, where he is shaping the next generation of musicians.

“I came to Birmingham from Belfast, where I had done my undergraduate degree, and I had already built up a strong foundation in essay writing and composition. But it was in Birmingham that I really got to immerse myself in the performance world, day in, day out. That extra input from BCU and intense practical experience has shaped who I am today.

Honestly, I chose RBC because London scared the life out of me. Birmingham felt more grounded, a booming city with a great music scene and a Conservatoire that had a fantastic reputation. It also helped that the CBSO was right on the doorstep.

One of my most defining moments came early on, when I successfully auditioned for the CBSO scheme in my very first month in Birmingham. That, and winning the postgraduate prize in my final year, were huge milestones. But just as meaningful were the nights spent socialising at Bread and Roses, making music with friends, and bouncing off the energy from students in the jazz department. It was a very rich, and collaborative environment that made me feel like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

I didn’t do many extracurricular activities beyond recitals and chamber music, but I’ll never forget one powerful lecture I was fortunate to be a part of, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Musician. It was so honest and helped me understand that developing a music career requires emotional resilience and talent.

That lesson came in handy when I stepped into the real world. I did a lot of playing and even landed some orchestral gigs. But I soon realised I felt most at home in Music Education. The reality is, especially in the arts, you need to work, support yourself, and stay open to where your passion can lead, and for me, that was leading music services.

Today, I head up the Music Service at the City of Wolverhampton Council. We reach over 7,000 children a week, run 15 ensembles, and manage a workforce of about 40 teachers. It’s a job where no two days are ever the same, from building next year’s budget to performing Mozart in a school concert. And while I still utilise my musical skills in the role, I’ve had to learn a lot on the job, like business planning and bid writing. Most obstacles in this line of work aren’t about the music, they’re about making the music happen.

One of the proudest moments of my career was launching the “Youth Proms” in Symphony Hall during my time as Head of Music Service in Birmingham. People thought I was crazy for booking a whole week of concerts. But we did it and we did it well; we had full audiences every day, incredible performances, and impacted so many lives.

To anyone graduating or thinking of studying music, remember that your musical ability is just one part of the journey. Go to concerts, observe lessons, volunteer, and get experience, trust me they make all the difference. And finally, don’t compare yourself to others. Focus on growing to be your best self. When you do that, confidence follows and so do the opportunities.”