Liam Byrne is a renowned classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a viola da gamba player. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1980, and grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a professional violinist, and his mother was a singer. From a young age, Byrne was exposed to classical music and began playing the cello at the age of six. Byrne's interest in the viola da gamba was sparked when he was a teenager. He was introduced to the instrument by a friend who played it, and he was immediately drawn to its unique sound and history. The viola da gamba is a stringed instrument that was popular in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and it has a warm, mellow tone that is distinct from other stringed instruments. Byrne began studying the viola da gamba with some of the leading teachers in Ireland and the UK. He attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, where he studied with Sarah Cunningham, a renowned viola da gamba player. He also studied with Wieland Kuijken, a leading figure in the early music movement, at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Byrne's talent as a viola da gamba player quickly became apparent, and he began performing professionally while still a student. He played with a number of early music ensembles in Ireland and the UK, including the Irish Baroque Orchestra and the Academy of Ancient Music. He also performed as a soloist, playing works by composers such as Marin Marais and Johann Sebastian Bach. One of the highlights of Byrne's early career was his performance at the Wigmore Hall in London in 2005. He played a solo recital of works by Marais, Bach, and other composers, and received rave reviews from critics. The Guardian called his playing "mesmerizing," and praised his "sensitivity and virtuosity." In 2006, Byrne was awarded a fellowship from the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, a prestigious organization that supports young musicians. The fellowship provided him with funding to pursue his career as a soloist and chamber musician, and helped to raise his profile in the classical music world. Since then, Byrne has continued to perform and record extensively. He has played with some of the leading early music ensembles in Europe, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. He has also collaborated with contemporary composers, including Nico Muhly and Valgeir Sigurðsson, and has premiered several new works for the viola da gamba. One of Byrne's most notable collaborations was with the singer and songwriter Björk. In 2011, he played on her album Biophilia, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. He also performed with her on her subsequent tour, playing the viola da gamba on stage alongside electronic instruments and a choir. Byrne's recordings have received critical acclaim and have helped to bring the viola da gamba to a wider audience. His 2017 album, The Fall of the House of Usher, which features works by the French composer Jean-Féry Rebel, was praised by The Guardian as "a triumph of imagination and musicianship." His 2019 album, Voices of Music, which features works by Bach and other composers, was similarly well-received. In addition to his performing and recording career, Byrne is also a respected teacher and scholar. He has taught at several universities and conservatories, including the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland.

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