David Agnew was born in Dublin. He studied Piano, Recorder and Guitar before taking up the Oboe at the age of 17. Arts Council Scholarships enabled him to study with the world’s greatest oboists Heinz Holliger and Maurice Bourgue at International Masterclasses in London, Paris, Avignon and Cologne. He won the first Principal Prize in the College of Music, Dublin in 1979 and completed the Licentiate of Trinity College, London (L.T.C.L.) in 1981.

With his music studies he also completed a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany at University College, Dublin in 1979 followed by M.Sc. Botany in 1981.

He joined the RTE Concert Orchestra in 1982 and has been a frequent and popular soloist with them since. David has also performed as soloist and with orchestra in England, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Japan and Korea. He has toured the USA and Canada extensively with the Concert Orchestra.

He has recorded with the Chieftains, Phil Coulter, Frank Patterson, the original Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Rod Stewart, R.E.M., Wet Wet Wet, Secret Garden, Irish Film Orchestra, Liam Lawton, Ronan Hardiman and played with most major Irish artists from Paul Brady to Sinead O Connor, Altan, Declan O Rourke, Duke Special, Jerry Fish, Sharon Shannon, the Coronas and Finbar Furey. International artists include. Pavarotti, Domingo, Carreras and Kiri te Kanawa, Juan Diego Florez, Lang Lang, Johnny Dankworth, Cleo Laine, James Galway, Vince Mendoza, Kurt Elling, Pink Martini.

Solo CDs

Music of the Night (1989), The Way I Feel (1992), Celtic Moods (1995), Pure Celtic Moods (1996), A Celtic Christmas (1997), The Best of Frank McNamara and David Agnew (2000), Heart’s Quest (2000), Into the Mist (2002), Oboe (2003), Lift the Wings (2004), Gabriel’s Oboe (2005), The Best of the Oboe featuring David Agnew 1987-2005 (2005), The King of Oboe (2006)

David lectures and teaches in the D.I.T. Chatham Row in oboe and D.I.T. Rathmines on Creative Development, Music Business, Promotion and Marketing.