Gary is currently in the first year of the MA in Performance at the CIT Cork School of Music, where he is now studying with Dr. Gabriela Mayer. Gary began his piano studies at the age of 6 in the CIT CSM with Susan Čáp and continued his studies for many years with his mentor Jan Čáp, until the end of his undergraduate degree. Gary spent his Erasmus study visit at the Universität der Kunste, Berlins with Jacques Rouvier. He graduated with 1st Class Honours as ‘Highest Placed Student’ and ‘Student of the Year’ from the Bachelor of Music Degree at the CIT Cork School of Music in June 2016.
Winning the Irish Freemason’s Young Musician of the Year Competition in October 2014 is one of Gary’s most prominent achievements to date, along with being selected to represent Ireland in the Dublin International Piano Competition in May 2015 following his success in the Irish Preliminary Round in December 2014. In August 2015, Gary had his solo debut with the RTE Concert Orchestra in the National Concert Hall.
Gary has been an annual prizewinner of national competitions from a young age. In February 2015, Gary was awarded the most prestigious award in Feis Maitiu Cork, the Capuchin Order Perpetual Cup and Bursary. In Feis Ceoil Dublin in March 2014, Gary won the Mabel Swainson Senior Pianoforte Award, and was invited to perform in the National Concert Hall at the 2014 Feis Ceoil Gala Concert. As part of this distinguished award, he was awarded two solo recitals, in the John Field Room NCH and at the Clandeboye Estate Belfast, as part of the Clandeboye Festival directed by Barry Douglas. Both recitals were well received; “Beecher’s marshaling of the huge sonorities demanded by the piece [Liszt’s Dante sonata] bespoke a maturity of both technique and interpretive outlook rare in a 21-year-old player” (Belfast Telegraph)
Gary has complemented his studies with masterclasses from such distinguished pianists as Dr. John O’Conor, Phillipe Cassard, Hilary Coates, Boris Petrushansky, Philip Martin, Mary Dullea, Anne Koscielny, Robert Andres, Pierre Goy, Flavio Zaccaria, Finghin Collins, Barry Douglas, Christopher Elton, Therese Fahy, Pavel Nersessian, and Ewa Poblocka.
Gary has also received chamber music masterclasses from Julius Drake, Andrew West, Eugene Asti, Miriam Fried, Imelda Drumm, Dearbhla Brosnan, Christopher Marwood and Adrian Petcu.
Solo recitals and performances include venues such as John Field Room NCH, the RDS, Anaverna House Louth, New Ross Piano Festival (launch), the Curtis Auditorium CSM, and Joseph Joachim Konzertsaal, UDK Berlin,.
Gary is also an avid chamber musician and has performed chamber music recitals in the NCH, the RDS Rising Stars Concert Series, Curtis Auditorium CSM, Cork City Hall, Triskel Christchurch, and at the Westport Chamber Music Festival.