Recording Sessions and Live Collaborations

Glas members provide professional string sections for studio recordings and live events both in Ireland and all over the world. No strangers to the studio, the stage, or the tourbus, we collaborate with artists to create unforgettable performances or recordings. For studio strings and orchestral sessions, we have huge experience in writing and recording string and orchestral parts for your tracks. For Live Strings or Orchestra, we're as happy in our heels on the Albert Hall as we are in our wellies in Glastonbury. Need strings for your track or show? Our in - house orchestrator Annemarie, can orchestrate or score prep for you where needed. We are delighted to have the option of both our acoustic instruments and our amazing Bridge Electric instruments for stage collaboration.

Recording Sessions and Live Collaborations

  • Biffy Clyro
  • Arcade Fire
  • Stewart Copeland (The Police)
  • Kygo
  • Villagers
  • Fr John Misty
  • Ocean Colour Scene
  • Deacon Blue
  • Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat
  • Young Fathers
  • Paul Weller
  • The Coronas
  • Gavin James
  • Ham Sandwich
  • Steve Pilgrim
    (Paul Weller Band)
  • The Fratellis
  • Frightened Rabbit
  • Camera Obscura
  • Francis Macdonald
    (Teenage Fanclub)
  • Deacon Blue
  • Echo and the Bunnymen
  • The Twilight Sad

About us

Annemarie McGahon

Viola
Annemarie is a founding member and managing partner of both Glas Quartet and our sister quartet in Scotland, the Cairn String Quartet. Annemarie studied viola at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for both her post-graduate and under-graduate degrees. After 15 years touring the world from her Glasgow base with many well-known artists and bands, Annemarie returned to Ireland where she has freelanced in the Irish Orchestras whilst studying initially for a Masters’ in Business and Marketing and currently researching for a PhD in Social Inclusion and Music Education. Annemarie is the composer and orchestrator for both Glas Quartet and Cairn String Quartet, keeping the playlists current with everything from ‘video game soundtracks’ to ‘what’s in the charts’. At the heart of her classical music education lies a pop and rock princess who loves nothing more than arranging whatever she heard on the radio that morning. Annemarie has orchestrated, recorded, and performed with many notable bands and is the currently violinist and orchestrator for Biffy Clyro.

Ailbhe Clancy

Violin
Ailbhe is a managing partner of Glas Quartet. She trained at the Royal Northern College of Music. Following that, she studied in Bilkent University in Turkey before returning to Ireland for a Masters in Performance at Conservatory of Music & Drama, DIT. As a freelance musician she has worked extensively with the Ulster Orchestra, The National Symphony, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, as well as NI Opera and Wexford Opera. Ailbhe also enjoys session work, TV appearances and playing with bands including Biffy Clyro, Ham Sandwich, Ryan McMullan, Michael Bublé and Soda Blonde. When Ailbhe is not running around the country for work, she likes to run up mountains and cycle across the country!

Aoife Dennedy

Cello
Aoife is a professional cellist based in Dundalk. She has been working as a freelance cellist across Ireland for nearly 15 years and has played and recorded with many artists including Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Westlife, Alesha Dixon, Gavin James and The Coronas. A keen orchestral musician, she has played with NI Opera, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra and Symphonia Cymru. Aoife holds a BA in Music Performance from The Royal Irish Academy of Music and a Masters in Music Performance from The Royal Northern College of Music. Music and food are two of Aoife’s great loves. Not so much cheese in the music but definitely in the food.

Vourneen Ryan

Flute
Vourneen trained in flute performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She continued her studies at WIT where she was awarded an MSc in Performance Psychology. Vourneen was previously sub- principal flute with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and now has a varied career as a freelance flautist, educator and performance psychologist. As a freelance flautist, Vourneen performs extensively with orchestras and chamber groups throughout Ireland including the National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Wexford Opera, Trio Táin and Glas Quartet. Vourneen is on the flute faculty and lectures in Career Development at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. At the end of a long day, Vourneen loves to curl up with a good box set.