Neil Martin is a Irish composer and musician whose work spans television, radio, theatre, concert stage and studio. His credits include the BBC drama Food for Ravens, written and directed by Trevor Griffiths; The Devil, a drama short, directed by Frankie McCafferty; the television documentary Evacuees for Double Band Films and Shane, a short directed by Jimmy McAleavey. His music has been performed by the Ulster, RTÉ Concert and Irish Chamber Orchestras and various chamber ensembles, including the West Ocean String Quartet which he founded and leads. In 2007, his symphony, OSSA, received its world premiere in Belfast and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and the internet, preceeded by a BBC2 documentary following Neil for twelve months during the writing and rehearsal period. The work was performed by The Ulster Orchestra, the 120 strong Belfast Philharmonic Choir and treble soloist Declan Kennedy. In 2004 Neil was commissioned to write a major work for uilleann pipes, whistle and symphony orchestra – ‘No Tongue Can Tell’. It opened the Belfast Festival at Queen’s in 2004 and was later performed at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. In 2011, his composition 'Exsultet' was the featured work in the USA Tour by Belfast choir Cappella Caeciliana, part of the Imagine Ireland series.
