Ioana Petcu-Colan & David Edmonds In Concert

Ioana Petcu Colan is currently Leader of the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast, alongside which she continues to enjoy a rich and diverse freelance life.

On both modern and baroque violin, Ioana has performed a considerable number of solo works with the orchestra, including many of the great concertos, as well as shorter works and more contemporary offerings. Ioana has also toured internationally, recorded, broadcast and coached in her various roles as first violin; as former founder member of the prize-winning Callino Quartet, with piano trio Ensemble Avalon and with South American folk band Lunfardía. Chamber collaborations have been with artists as diverse as Barry Douglas (piano), John Abercrombie (jazz guitarist), Martin Hayes (trad fiddle) and Arcade Fire (indie rock). Alongside her role at the Ulster Orchestra, Ioana is in increasing demand as a leader, joining a variety of orchestras at home and abroad as guest concertmaster. She teaches at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and at Queens University, Belfast.

During the first lockdown of 2021, Ioana discovered a love of drawing and, within a year, had work included in both the RUA Belfast and RHA Dublin annual exhibitions.

Originally from Cork, Ioana also lived in London and Barcelona before finally calling Bangor home.

David Edmonds has established a diverse career as a chamber musician, orchestral player, soloist, and teacher. He was a member of the Rhodes Piano Trio, with whom he won second prize at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition 2011 and they performed at leading venues including Wigmore Hall, Barbican, Purcell Room, and the Melbourne Recital Centre. Their recording of Schumann Piano Trios on Champs Hill Records was released to critical acclaim. David also played an active role in the development of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, working closely with its musicians through coaching projects in Iraq and on European tours.

Alongside his chamber work, David has appeared as a soloist at venues such as the Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal, and has performed concertos including Dvořák’s Cello Concerto on tour in China and Brahms Double Concerto at the Ulster Hall.

Following an academy position with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, he has performed with leading UK orchestras, both as a section player and principal. He joined the Ulster Orchestra cello section in 2015, and since 2021 has served as principal cello with the Irish National Opera.