John Byrne wins competition to create new signature music for RTÉ’s Today Show

Congratulations to John Byrne, winner of the competition to create new signature music for RTÉ’s Today Show!

RTÉ One’s flagship daytime TV programme Today is heading into its 10th season on air in September and to mark this it teamed up with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra to find new signature music. The competition drew a very strong response of almost 200 entries, which ranged from classical to contemporary to traditional. The judging panel was struck by the high level of craftmanship, talent and enthusiasm on show. From this impressive field, the winning entry was by John Byrne, a musician, composer and arranger from Navan, Co. Meath. The new signature music is being recorded by the RTÉ CO this week, with multi-instrumentalist John himself joining the orchestra to play whistles for the recording. 

John has worked with artists including Bob Geldof, Billy Ocean, The Commitments, Curtis Stigers, Brian Kennedy and Mary Black, has played venues including The 3Arena and the London Palladium and has worked as score supervisor on films including Albert Nobbs, Black ’47 and Room. He comes from a musical family, with all six siblings and both parents playing music from a very young age. (His brother Brian Byrne has also worked extensively with the RTE CO.) With gigs and touring on hold, he has spent the Covid lockdowns in Tullamore, Co. Offaly working on his own compositions – but says this is the first time he has ever won anything!