About Lawrence Maconaghy

Being born into a musical family in Philadelphia, I’ve played music all my life.  I actually don’t remember learning how to play the piano.  My father was a professional bass player, and I can remember comping cords behind his walking bass lines at age 4.  I soon became fascinated with percussion and began my lifelong relationship with rhythm.  When I was a teenager, having played rock and jazz for quite a few years, I became interested in classical music and approached a teacher who was the head of the music department at a University in Philadelphia.  I studied with her for 2 years, preparing for a scholarship to The University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  

     Since then, I have has continuously performed.  I have worked up and down the East Coast…from Boston to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,Washington D.C., Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami.  I have also worked in Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Las Vegas.  I was the principle percussionist with the prestigious Opera Barga Festival in Florence, Italy, and I’ve had extended Piano Bar engagements in Ireland (at the legendary Downhill Hotel in Ballina, Ireland) and in Denmark for multiple extended engagements at Jacobs, in Aarhus, Denmark.

      More recently I have worked as a Piano Bar Entertainer for the cruise industry, performing for Holland America and Carnival Cruise Lines for 10 years, totaling more than 300 performance dates per year.  I met my wife (who is also a professional pianist) while working for Carnival.  We finally decided to stop traveling after spending 339 days on the road in one year, and have settled in Manchester NH.  

      I have always had a passion for passing on my knowledge and experience.  I tell my students that learning music should be fun.  It is so inspiring  to hear my students say that they can’t believe they can learn so easily.  I think my background in multiple genres enables me to meet each student where they are, and to then guide them to be the best pianist/percussionist they can be.  Beginners have so much potential that it is exciting to see, and hear, where their musical journey leads them.