American Violinist Mary O’Reilly has Passed Away

O’Reilly was a former member of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Radio Philharmonic Orchestra

Hailing from Irvington, New York, Mary O’Reilly attended Columbia High School and studied at Boston’s New England Conservatory (NEC) from 1971 to 1976, earning her Bachelor’s degree in violin performance.

She was later appointed associate concertmaster of the Noordhollands Philharmonisch Orkest, plus served as principal second violin then second concertmaster of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.

Additionally, for 15 years from 1988 to 2004, O’Reilly played first violin in the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. 

In 2002, she started serving as the artistic and managing director of the Rotterdam Hellendaal Music Institute, where she had previously served as a violin professor. 

For nearly a decade, she was also a board member of the Association of the Friends of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. 

“When I studied voice at (NEC), I made it my business to make friends with all types of musicians, not just my voice major mates,” singer Charles Rhodes posted on Facebook. “One of those very special to me was a fabulous violinist, Mary O’Reilly … She never looked down on singers. Often in music schools we are not considered true musicians. My heart goes out to her loved ones, and those of us who carry many memories in our brains of her fabulous playing.”

Our condolences to Ms. O’Reilly’s family, friends, students, and colleagues.