Irish violinist Mairéad Hickey has performed as a soloist with the Irish National Symphony and Concert Orchestras, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Orchestre de Bordeaux Aquitaine, Kremerata Baltica, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Camerata Ireland and with conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach. Her Carnegie Hall debut was described as ‘…magical, penetrating to the heart and soul of the music.’ (New York Epoch Times)

Mairéad was concertmaster of the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire from 2021 to 2023. She frequently performs as guest concertmaster in orchestras across Europe.

A passionate chamber musician, Mairéad has performed with Sir András Schiff, Barry Douglas, Tabea Zimmermann, Renaud Capuçon, Steven Isserlis, Christian Tetzlaff, Alain Altinoglu, Kirill Gernstein, and the Vanbrugh Quartet.

Mairéad has been performed at festivals around the world including West Cork, Clandeboye, Rheingau, Colmar, Gstaad and Kronberg.

She is the co-founder and co-artistic director of the Ortús Chamber Music Festival in Cork.

Mairéad was Irish NCH Young Musician of the Year 2010 – 2012. She won third prize at the 2016 Louis Spohr Competition and the Hoffmann prize at the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad 2022.

Mairéad began playing the violin with Jyrki Pietila. She studied with Adrian Petcu at the Cork School of Music, Constantin Serban and at Kronberg Academy with Mihaela Martin.

Mairéad plays a 1702 Giovanni Tononi violin.