Noel Heraty
Irish born Noel has been playing Drums and Percussion for over 40 years and covers a wide range of styles and genres. Drumset, Latin percussion and Tuned percussion are just some of the different specialities he covers.
Orchestra & Television
While living in Ireland, Noel performed for 6 years with The National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the RTE Concert Orchestra and the Irish Chamber Orchestra, including many international tours. Opera work included the annual International Wexford Festival Opera and the National Opera Society of Ireland. He has performed with Jose Carreras, Kiri TeKanawa and Placido Domingo. In Ballet, Noel performed with the San Jose Ballet Company featuring Rudolph Nureyev at the 3Arena in Ireland. Irish television work included regular performances with the house band for Kenny Live and The Late Late Show as well as working with musical artists on the The National Entertainment Awards. He performed on numerous TV shows over the years including Ireland’s The Proms, Music of the Night and multiple Fashion Shows.
Movie Soundtracks and Musicals
Noel has performed percussion on the movie soundtracks for The Mask, Grifters, The Remains of the Day, Toy Soldiers, Thumbelina, The Proprietor and A Troll in Central Park. He performed as percussionist on the UK West End National Tour of 42nd Street in Dublin and also as percussionist for the 3 month run of West Side Story at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin.
Popular & Contemporary
Noel has recorded and performed Contemporary music for Irish chamber group Nua Nos with composer Gerald Barry in Banff, Canada, as well as numerous recordings for the Naxos record label.
Popular music includes performances with Clannad, Midge Ure, Sinead O’ Connor, The Chieftains, Donovan, Philip Donnelly, Paul Brady and Daniel O’ Donnell. With his band Those Stilted Boys, he regularly performed along side some of the biggest names in Ireland including The Cranberries, The Stunning, Hot House Flowers and many others. Other recordings include jazz singer Selina Jones, David Essex and Gareth Wall. Noel currently performs from time to time with Jimmy’s Buffet, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band in San Diego.
Riverdance - the Show
In 1995, Noel joined the original production of Riverdance as percussionist and began a 7 year tour that included performances in Ireland, U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Europe and throughout the USA including Radio City Music Hall in New York. He also performed in the Broadway production of the show at the Gershwin Theater from 2000-2001. During this time he had an opportunity to perform on The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O Brien and the Today Show.
The Wiggles
Noel continues to record drums and percussion for The Wiggles. He has been working with them in the studio since 2011. He also has performed with The Wiggles on tour in the USA and Canada in addition to shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Some of the many albums include The Tree of Wisdom, The Sound of Christmas, The Sound of Halloween, Party Time, Dance Dance, Ukulele Baby and many more. In 2025, he recorded Wiggle Up, Giddy Up which included Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, Orville Peck, Kaylee Bell, Morgan Evans, Jackson Dean and many other country artists.
Education and teaching
Noel studied at the Percussion Institute of Technology (Musicians Institute) in 1993-1994. Prior to that he had studied under Richard O’Donnell (Principal Percussionist RTECO), Mitchell Peters (Principal Percussionist Los Angeles Philharmonic), Mike Skinner (Principal Covent Garden Orchestra), Bosco D’Olivera (Latin) and Nate Morton (LA Session/TV Drummer). Noel’s teaching experience includes Glenstal Abbey in Ireland, tutoring the Irish Youth Orchestra percussion section and many hours of Private lessons. He was also asked to teach drums to the son of Irish President Mary Robinson.
Noel endorses Latin Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumskins and Vic Firth Sticks
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