Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Pianist, Music Therapist, Choirmaster
Biography
Born in Skipton, Yorkshire in 1961, Denis O’Regan is of Irish, German, English and Dutch descent
In 1983 he was the first composer to graduate from the Guildhall School of Music, London.
Denis also studied piano, voice, percussion and conducting and during his time at Guildhall met Carol Dolan. A talented cellist from Wicklow, Ireland, Carol had given up her career playing with the RTE Symphony Orchestra to undertake a post-graduate qualification as a Music Therapist which at the time was not available in Ireland. So it was in moving to London to study that Carol and Denis met.
In 1986 Denis also qualified as a Music Therapist, married Carol and therefore they were probably the first married couple of Music Therapists.
Denis O'Regan GGSM, LGSM(MT)
In his early career Denis worked in the NHS as a full time Music Therapist in a long-stay institution for adults with Learning Disabilities. He also applied his profession in a child diagnostic centre and specialised in working with people with challenging behaviour and severe multiple disabilities.
WildFire
In the nineties Denis helped to launch a covers band called Wildfire arranging and performing music from the 50s to the present day.
As well as gigging in the UK for weddings, and corporate events, the band performed in France and Italy and was known for their tremendously wide repertoire covering artists such as Otis Redding, James Brown, Abba, Oasis, Madness, Sting, Kylie, Robbie Williams and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Carol and Denis redesigned their lives moving to West Cork in 2015 knowing nobody there. They are now appreciating the wonderful wildlife living in a home on the edge of the Atlantic and are delighted to have been welcomed into the local community.
Denis now uses his IT skill to develop websites for faith communities, (see faithful.ie) provide livestream Masses, as well as taking on the role of stranding researcher and Cork coordinator for the IWDG (Irish Whale and Dolphin Group).
Over the years Denis has held posts in several churches as Musical Director and Choirmaster. He continues to be involved in various music ventures and is currently putting the finishing touches to composing a new musical setting of the Mass as gaeilge.