Declan Masterson is an Irish uilleann piper, traditional musician, composer and arranger.
13 Facts About Declan Masterson
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Declan Masterson has performed and recorded with many artists, including: Van Morrison, Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Bill Whelan, Clannad, Jim McCann, Eleanor McEvoy, Townes Van Zandt, Michael Londra, Zoe Conway, Ronnie Drew, John Denver and Christy Moore, among others.
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Declan Masterson was encouraged by his parents Frances and Jim, who both played traditional music, and by his uncle Jimmy O'Reilly, a squeezebox player from Multyfarnham, County Westmeath.
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Declan Masterson took a keen interest in the uilleann pipes and was mentored by pipe maker Matt Kiernan, who lived nearby and made his first set.
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Declan Masterson first played with the Pipers Club Ceili Band, and his first group was Tipsy Sailor, which included Gerry O'Connor and Fiach O Broin.
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Declan Masterson gained a Leaving Certificate from O'Connell School, Dublin, in 1974.
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In 1994, Declan Masterson teamed up with Whelan again and joined Riverdance.
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Declan Masterson remained with the show on and off for its entire duration, playing uilleann pipes, low whistle, tin whistle, kaval and bouzouki, taking on the duties of musical director, until the Farewell show in May 2012.
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Declan Masterson returned for the 25th Anniversary series of concerts, beginning at the 3Arena in February 2020, playing guitar, bouzouki, kaval and pipes.
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Declan Masterson recorded five solo albums: End of the Harvest, Tropical Trad, Fairwater Fionnuisce, Drifting Through The Hazel Woods and Heartland.
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Declan Masterson wrote and arranged music scores for film, TV and theatre, and his piping is featured on the soundtrack of the films The Irish RM, Eat the Peach, The Secret of Roan Inish and Some Mother's Son.
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Declan Masterson participated in many recordings, with a wide range of musicians.
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Declan Masterson toured as musical director for Makem and Clancy.