Cormac Henry

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The Orchestra

Cormac Henry

Section Leader, Flute
Adopted by Gill Porter

A native of County Kerry in Ireland, Cormac Henry took up the flute at age seven. His studies took him from the Kerry School of Music to Dublin, then to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Averil Williams, and finally to Stuttgart with Jean Claude Gerard.

Cormac has been a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra since 2002 and has played as guest principal flute with many orchestras in the UK and abroad, including the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Bavarian Radio Symphony. Highlights from his time in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra include some great tours, both socially and musically, and enjoying occasional opportunities to perform as a soloist with the Orchestra. The chance to play Nielsen’s Flute Concerto in 2021 stands out as a special experience.

Outside of the Orchestra, Cormac is kept busy by two lively young sons. He also tries to find time to attend the odd Munster or Ireland rugby match or squeeze a round of golf in at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake.

Fun Fact:

Cormac has been known to sing lead in a funk/rock band, he performed occasionally a few years ago with some colleagues from the Orchestra but hasn’t reprised his singing career in a long time... but never say never!

What is your earliest musical memory?

So far as I can recall, it was being in a photograph taken for the opening of the Kerry School of Music. I was handed a clarinet to attempt to play...so there is a photo of me somewhere in The Kerryman playing the clarinet the wrong way round.

Who is your biggest msuical inspiration and why?

My main teacher at Guildhall was Avery Williams, who had a great influence on me. Outside of the flute and Classical Music, I like to think of Louis Armstrong as a bit of an influence!

What is your most memorable moment with the Orchestra so far?

During the football-themed education concerts a few years ago, the orchestra was really getting into the spirit of it, as we always do in our education concerts. At one point, a group of us did an extravagant goal celebration, sliding on our knees to the front of the stage and did the rocking baby move you often see footballers do. Halfway through I realised Vasily (who hadn't started working with the orchestra yet) was watching from the box just to our right. I dread to imagine what he was thinking!

If you weren't a musician, what would you be?

If I wasn't a musician (and had the talent), I'd be a professional golfer. I try and get a round of golf in as regularly as I can.