Úna Palliser

Una Palliser
Birth name	Úna Palliser
Genres	Classical, Balkan, Rock, Pop, Irish Folk
Occupation(s)	musician
Instruments	violin, viola, voice, strohviol, piano, accordion
Years active	2002–present

Una Palliser is an Irish born, London based violinist, violist, singer and multi-instrumentalist who as well as being classically trained, is recognised for her proficiency in many musical genres, including rock, jazz, balkan and Irish folk. She is best known for her collaborations and role as guest soloist with many high profile artists, including Shakira, A.R.Rahman, Leona Lewis, Terrafolk and Otis Taylor (musician) and as the singer of Irish folk song Mo Ghile Mear on the Specsavers 'Collie Wobble' advertisement.^[1][2][3] Una is also the solo Irish singer on the end credits of BBC 6 part tv series My Mother and Other Strangers ^[4] and the singer of the theme tune for BBC 6 part series Kat and Alfie: Redwater ^[5]

Biography

Early life

Una was born in Cork, Ireland where she began learning the violin at 4 years old at the Cork School of Music.^[6][7] She also studied piano and viola and later was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra.^[8] Palliser won a number of awards including Wolfson Trust Award, a Royal Philharmonia Martin Musical Scholarship Award, and was a string finalist in the RTÉ Millennium Musician of the Future Competition. She won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London where she studied with Garfield Jackson of the Endellion Quartet for 4 years before graduating with a 1st Class Hons Degree in performance.^[9][10]

Career

Una has recorded and performed as a session musician with many artists such as The Killers, Dionne Warwick, ^[11] P Diddy, Buena Vista Social Club, Maxim Vengerov, The Noisettes, and Elbow.^[10][12] She has performed on a number of television programs including Later With Jools Holland, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Top of the Pops and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross^[13] She also appeared in Mark Ronson's video 'Valerie'.^[14]

She toured Europe as part of Gnarls Barkley's band in 2006, and as solo violinist/violist on Patrick Wolf's Magic Position tour of the US and Europe in 2007.^[15] Later that year she performed as featured violist on Take That's Beautiful World Tour 2007.^[14][16][17]

In 2008 Palliser was the featured lead singer and violinist/violist on the single 'Still Resist The Storm' on BBC World Music Award Winning band Terrafolk's record Full Circle,^[18] which topped the radioplay charts in Slovenia.^[19] This led to many international tours and performances as a featured guest artist with Terrafolk.^[20]

Palliser toured as violinist with Moby on his 2009 summer tour.^[15][21]

In August 2011 she joined Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer as guest violinist on her UK tour.^[22][23]

In October/November 2011 she performed at the Tribeca Film Festival in Qatar as the solo violinist with Leona Lewis. She rejoined Leona in Kuala Lumpur in March 2012 to perform to the King and Queen of Malaysia^[24] Palliser appeared with Lewis again in December 2014 at The Fayre of St James' Christmas Concert in aid of Rays of Sunshine ^[25][26]

In May 2012 Palliser joined Avalanche City playing violin, glockenspiel, accordion and backing vocals for their UK shows.^[27]

In October 2012 Palliser toured with George Michael on his Symphonica Tour^[28]

Palliser performed as guest violinist with Otis Taylor (musician) at the FMM Sines – Festival Músicas do Mundo in Lisbon^[29] and Le Duc des Lombards in Paris^[30] in July 2012. She rejoined Taylor at La Defence Jazz Festival in Paris in July 2013^[31]

In 2014 Palliser featured in "The Secret Life of Materials", a documentary by Met Films ^[32] in which she tried out and performed on one of the world's first 3D printed violins ^[33]

In 2016 Palliser performed on violin and as singer in the All Irish production of Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe ^[34] where she also sang one of her own compositions in the role of Kate's absent mother ^[35] She later performed in Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in Inn at Lydda ^[36]

In 2017 Palliser's singing and playing was featured in Jez Butterworth 's The Ferryman (play) at the Royal Court Theatre and Gielgud Theatre directed by Sam Mendes ^[37]

In summer 2017 she toured as backing singer and violinist with Elbow (band). ^[38] Una performed as guest violin soloist with Indian composer and singer A.R. Rahman at Wembley Arena in July 2017 to celebrate 25 years of his music. ^[39] She later rejoined A.R.Rahman at the International Indian Film Academy Awards at the MetLife Stadium in New York ^[40]

Palliser has been described as an 'extraordinary violinist' by the UK's The Independent newspaper.^[41] and her voice has been described as 'haunting' by both Metro (British Newspaper) and Songlines (magazine) ^{[42] [43]}

Shakira

In 2010, Shakira invited Palliser to feature as the solo violinist on her 2010 / 2011 The Sun Comes Out World Tour where she also sang back up vocals as well as played the accordion, whistles and strohviol.^[6][44] She had a 4-minute improvised solo intro to the last song of Shakira's main set, 'Ojos Asi'.^[45]

Vocals

Palliser's recording of the Irish folk song "Mo Ghile Mear" has been used on the Specsavers 'Sheep' advert since 2008.

She is the lead singer and violinist in the four-member band Una & the Balkan Bears which completed its first UK / Ireland tour in May 2010, ending with a performance at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London.^[12][46][47] Una returned to Ireland in 2013 with her Balkan duo Balkish with accordionist Marko Hatlak to perform alongside Capercaillie (band) ^[48] Una is the solo Irish singer on the end credits of BBC 6 part tv series My Mother and Other Strangers ^[49] and the singer of the theme tune for BBC 6 part series Kat and Alfie: Redwater ^[50]

Personal life

Palliser currently lives in London. She is married to chef James 'Jocky' Petrie ^[51], former Head of Creative Development at The Fat Duck and current Group Executive Chef for Gordon Ramsay ^[52]Her brother Conor Palliser is a conductor and pianist^[53][54] and brother Ronan Palliser is a photographer.^[55] Her father plays Irish folk music including harmonica and whistles.^[6]

Tours

• Elbow (band) (violin, backing vocals 2017)
• Pete Tong with Heritage Orchestra (viola, 2016)
• Michael Buble (uk only-violin 2014)
• Otis Taylor (violin 2011-2013)
• George Michael (viola 2012)
• Avalanche City (violin, vocals, accordion 2012)
• Shakira (violin, electric violin, strohviol, accordion, whistle, percussion, backing vocals, 2010–11)
• Moby (violin, electric violin, 2009)
• Take That Beautiful World Tour 2007 (viola, 2007)
• Patrick Wolf Magic Position Tour (electric violin, viola, 2007)
• Gnarls Barkley (violin, viola, 2006)

Theatre

The Ferryman (play) (pre recorded solo vocals, violin/viola) - 2017 - Gielgud Theatre Royal Court Theatre ^[56]

The Inn at Lydda - (strohviol, violin) - 2016 Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ^[57]

The Taming of the Shrew (actor-musician + singer) - 2016 - Shakespeare's Globe ^[58]

Macbeth (dep /understudy singer) - 2016 - Shakespeare's Globe

Tribute to Stefan Zweig (improvised violin) - 2015 - Arts Theatre ^[59]

Reading with Bach (violin with contemporary dance choreography) - 2014 - Trinity Laban ^[60]

María de Buenos Aires (actor-musician) - 2013 - Cork Opera House ^[61]

Pagliacci (actor-musician) - 2012 - Everyman Palace Theatre ^[62]

Lord of the Rings (dep viola) - 2012 - Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change -St Andrew's Theatre Dublin Kings Head Theatre + Edinburgh Festival Fringe ^[63]

Graffiti Classics World Tour (actor-musician) ^[64]

Discography

Solo

Specsavers 'Collie Wobble' advertisement (solo vocals, arranger) – Soundtree Music – 2008^[65]

Kat and Alfie: Redwater BBC television series (solo vocals, violin) - 2017

My Mother and Other Strangers BBC television series (solo vocals, violin) - 2016

With Tom Hickox

• Angel Of The North - War, Peace and Diplomacy album (stroh violin, 2014)

with Shakira

• Je ľaime a mourir (solo violin, string arranger, 2011)
• Live From Paris (solo violin, vocals, accordion, strohviol, 2011)

with Terrafolk

• 'Still Resist the Storm' (solo vocals, violin, viola) – single – Full Circle Album- Music Net, Menart (2008)^[66]

with Take That

• Beautiful World Live – Universal (viola, 2008)

with Smoke Fairies

• Troubles – Music For Heroes Records (solo fiddle, viola, 2008)

Other recordings

Three Girls (miniseries) BBC series soundtrack - (violin, viola, 2017) ^[67]

Funny Girl (musical) London Cast Recording - (violin, viola, 2016)

with Ghostpoet

• Shedding Skin - Play It Again Sam ^[68]
• Be Right Back, Moving House - Play It Again Sam (viola 2015)
• Nothin In The Way - Play It Again Sam (viola 2015)

The Dumping Ground BBC series soundtrack (viola, 2016-17)

with George Michael

• Symphonica (George Michael album) (viola, 2014)

With Elsten Torres

• The Only One (violin, string arrangement, 2013)

with Carl Barat

• So Long My Lover – PIAS Recordings, Arcady Records (violin, viola 2010)
• Ode to a Girl – PIAS Recordings, Arcady Records (violin, viola 2010)

with The Killers

• A Dustland Fairytale – Live at Abbey Road – Channel 4 (viola 2010)^[10]

with Russell Watson

• Anthems album – Sony (violin 2012)

with Katie Melua

• Secret Symphony Dramatico (viola 2012)

with The Choirgirl Isabel

• The Choirgirl album – Universal UK (violin, viola, 2010)

with Aled Jones

• Aled's Christmas Gift album (viola, 2010)

with Lisa Lois

• Smoke album – SBC/Sony BMG – (viola, 2010)

with Paloma Faith

• Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful? – Sony Music (viola, 2009)

with Noisettes / Radio 1's Live Lounge CD

• When We Were Young (Killers cover) BBC Radio (viola, 2009)

with Brian Eno

• The Lovely Bones Soundtrack (viola, 2009)^[69]

with Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse

• Valerie video (viola, 2008)

with Tony Christie

• Made in Sheffield album (viola, 2008)^[70]

with Peter Kay / Geraldine McQueen

• Once Upon a Christmas Song – Polydor Records (viola, string arrangements, 2008)

with Gary Barlow / Eliot Kennedy

• Without You / Brittania High soundtrack – Polydor Records – (viola, string arrangements, 2008)

with Peter Raeburn

• You and Me album – Nowever Records (violin, viola, 2008)

with Gnarls Barkley / Later with Jools Holland CD

• Crazy – BBC (viola/violin, 2007)

with All Angels

• All Angels – Universal (viola, 2006)

with The Shapeshifters

• Beautiful Heartache – Positiva, EMI (viola, 2006)

with Hugh Cornwell

• Gingerbread Girl – Koch Entertainment (viola, 2000)

Trident 'splash' advertisement – Soundtree Music (composer, string arranger, violin, 2008)

Smirnoff ' Sea' advertisement – Soundtree Music (violin, viola)

Royal Mail 'Grow' advertisement – Soundtree Music (violin, viola)

Nokia 'Harmony' advertisement – Soundtree Music (vocals)

BBC One's 'Let's Dance' TV theme – BBC (violin, viola)

'Love on a Saturday Night' TV theme – London Weekend Television / ITV (vocals)

Eva Short Film Soundtrack – Jeva Films^[71] (solo vocals)

By Hook Short Film Soundtrack – Virgin Media Shorts / Laura Evers Johns (solo vocals)^[72]

Every Good Boy Does Fine Short Film Soundtrack - Factory Gate Productions (solo violin) ^[73]

See also

Kat and Alfie: Redwater

Ojos Asi

Mo Ghile Mear

Strohviol

Notes

External links

• Una Palliser's MySpace
• Una Palliser's Facebook Music Page
• Una Palliser on Twitter