Bryan Quigley is a composer, double bass player and improviser. He studied composition with Eric Sweeney at the Waterford Institute of Technology, graduating with a BA Mus in 2001. During his time there he participated in masterclasses and workshops with Louis Andriessen and Black Hair Ensemble. In 2003, under the tutelage of John Buckley and Martin O'Leary, he received a first class honours MA in Composition from NUI Maynooth. In 2006, supported by an Arts Council training bursary, he travelled to Switzerland for private tuition with Barry Guy, a leading influence on his writing, playing and improvising.
His compositional output fluctuates between traditionally notated, open form, improvisatory and electronic works. He has composed music for large orchestra, small ensemble, choir, solo instruments and tape in addition to his improvisations for double bass. He is especially interested in using graphic scores and writing works for extended bass techniques and more recently has started experimenting in the area of music theatre. He enjoys performing as both a classical and improvising bass player and regularly collaborates with musicians who use live electronics in improvisatory/intuitive scenarios. These collaborations have involved working with such groups as the Hilltown New Music Ensemble, EAR ensemble and the Norwegian new music group T-EMP. (Trondheim Electro Acoustic Music Performance). His music has been selected for performance at the ISSTC and Hilltown New Music festivals.
