Raymond Heraty
Composer, Arranger, Conductor
Ray writes music in a variety of genres and styles but loves cinematic music most of all!
From Ireland, but settled now in Seattle by way of China and the Turks and Caicos, Ray Heraty has been a musician since taking up piano at around age 7. Deemed too small to play the French Horn at aged 9 he started on the cornet and has been a closeted French Horn player every since. These days he plays trumpet in a wide variety of musical groups in the Pacific Northwest including being a regular member of the Washington Wind Symphony and Thalia Symphony. He has subbed with many different ensembles in a variety of musical styles from Baroque to Jazz. Ray has performed in groups for nearly 40 years, and has tinkered around with composition off and on for most of that time. During the Covid lockdown he decided to formalize his composition training and earned a Master of Arts in Orchestration for Films, Games and Television from the University of Chichester in the UK. His music has been performed across the Pacific North West by a variety of ensembles big and small.
New Music Releases
Hot off the presses - this will be professionally recorded in Prague in July and is slated to receive it’s world premiere in with North County Winds in October 2026. This piece is an action filled tribute to the crews who operated thousands of bombing sorties in the Lancaster Bomber over Germany during WW2.
An evocative piece conjuring images of a fishing village in coastal Ireland, this three movement suite will be performed again at the ACB Regional Conference in Washington State in July 2026. It’s available for purchase now.
Listen to Ray’s Music.
Click the image above to listen to the premiere of “A Seattle Overture” performed by the Seattle Wind Symphony under Dr John Falskow.
Catalogue
Selected works Ray has recently completed. Click the ensemble type links at the top of the page for more.
Meeting Jin
This piece for large orchestra, was inspired by the experience of adopting my daughter Jin from China in 2008.
2 Days in August
An upbeat tune for 13 piece Brass Ensemble that celebrates the last days of summer
Light The Beacons!
A rowsing concert opener or encore in the style of a Superhero theme. This is the version written for a full Wind Ensemble.