Owen Gilhooly - Tenor/Director
© Frances Marshall Photography
Owen Gilhooly is a Professor of Singing at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
He studied with Jean Holmes at the Limerick School of Music and subsequently at the Royal College of Music and National Opera Studio. He made his Royal Opera House debut singing Faure Requiem for the Royal Ballet and represented Ireland at the 2007 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
He has appeared in principal roles with Opera Ireland, Opera Theatre Company, English Touring Opera, Lyric Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera North, The Opera Group and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. He has made frequent appearances at Wexford Festival Opera, Lismore Music Festival, Buxton Festival Opera, Les Azuriales Opera & Musikverkstatt Wien.
In concert he has appeared with the RTÉ NSO, IBO, Irish Chamber and Ulster Orchestras, the Bournemouth and Tokyo Symphony Orchestras, the Royal Liverpool and London Philharmonic Orchestras as well as the BBC Symphony Orchestra including Bill Bobstay (HMS Pinafore) and Janacek's Osud at the BBC Proms.
In 2014 made his debut for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden singing the role of Robert in the world premiere of Luke Bedford’s ‘Through his Teeth’
Having had a successful career as a high baritone, Owen’s voice has now moved into the tenor range with focus on lyric repertoire such as Macduff (Macbeth), Don Jose (Carmen), Lensky (Eugene Onegin), Cavarasdossi (Tosca).
Recent and future plans include Jenkins The Armed Man RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Mozart Requiem Culwick Choral Society, Lensky Eugene Onegin, A Nations Song 1916-2016, Military Bands of the Defence Forces, Gaston La Traviata, Britten St Nicholas with Tallaght Choral Society, A Recital of Dvorak and Brahms Lieder with Irish Songmakers at the NCH in 2018 as well the world premiere production of the new opera The Nightingale and the Rose.
www.owengilhooly.com
www.riam.ie/owen-gilhooly/
Louise Harrison - Mezzo - Soprano
Louise studied with Jean Holmes and Dr Veronica Dunne. She graduated with distinction in vocal performance from Trinity College London (A.T.C.L and L.T.C.L), has a Masters in Ethnomusicology and a BA in Music and English. While studying, Louise worked as a Bunratty Castle Entertainer, set up her own wedding business as a ceremony soloist throughout Ireland, recorded and toured the USA, Europe, the UK and Ireland with Anúna.
Since receiving an MA in Journalism, she now combines writing as a freelance Journalist with teaching voice in Mary Immaculate College ,The Redemptorist Centre of Music & the MWVA.
Tríona Walsh - Soprano
Limerick born Soprano, Tríona Walsh is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) where she majored in Classical Vocal Performance.
She has featured in recital, operatic productions and as concert soloist and chorus member for organizations including Art Song Perth, Opera Ireland, The Australian Opera Studio. She has also been a member of several professional vocal ensembles including Summa Musica, Ensemble Veritas, ENEKSIS Ensemble and The West Australian Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Tríona has been an ensemble member of Limerick's Opera Workshop since its inception in 2017. In 2019, as part of Opera Workshop’s production Abandoned, Tríona created the role of ‘Woman One’ in Fiona Linnane’s chamber opera, Off Tuskar. She has also appeared in The Countess’ Salon at No 1 Pery Square, Opera, What the Fuss? At the Irish World Music Academy and the touring show The Trouble with Virtue. Tríona has also collaborated with Hands in Harmony and is looking forward to further opportunities for collaboration.
Tríona currently works for Music Generation Offaly/Westmeath where is specializes in Performance based Classroom Music Education using Kodaly and Orff based philosophies. She is also involved with their Choral Programs and has been a choral leader with their annual Sing Fest and Festival Choirs since 2015. She currently conducts the Birr Young Voices, a project-based choir for children between the ages of 8 and 12 years old.
Irina Dernova - Piano /Accompanist
Irina Dernova graduated in Russia as a pianist and accompanist. Since she came to Ireland in 2006 she has been the organist in St.Nicholas church (Adare) and in St. Michael's church (Limerick). Being an organ scholar at St.Mary's Cathedral, she studies with Trevor Selby at the Limerick School of Music. Irina enjoys performing as solo pianist, organist and accompanist and also teaches piano in Maoin Cheoil an Chlair (Ennis) and privately.
Meagan Haughian - Piano, Guitar, Flute, Whistle, Uileann Pipes, Cór Gaelach, Ukulele
Meaghan Haughian is a flute player, piper, singer, and multi-instrumentalist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
After receiving Bachelor of Music (Music Education) and Bachelor of Education degrees in 2011, she taught band, choir, and guitar in the Saskatchewan school system.
She has also been involved in Irish music, singing in both English and Irish and playing flute, whistle, and uilleann pipes.
In 2018 she received her MA in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick, and as part of her thesis she directed the cór Gaelach (Irish language choir) “Cór Cois Sionna” while studying the uilleann pipes and participating in as many sessions as possible. She currently teaches music in Limerick and Clare.
Meaghan Haughian is a flute player, piper, singer, and multi-instrumentalist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
After receiving Bachelor of Music (Music Education) and Bachelor of Education degrees in 2011, she taught band, choir, and guitar in the Saskatchewan school system.
She has also been involved in Irish music, singing in both English and Irish and playing flute, whistle, and uilleann pipes.
In 2018 she received her MA in Ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick, and as part of her thesis she directed the cór Gaelach (Irish language choir) “Cór Cois Sionna” while studying the uilleann pipes and participating in as many sessions as possible. She currently teaches music in Limerick and Clare.
Michelle O Connor - Violin, Viola, Fiddle, Ukulele, Voice
Currently based in Limerick, Ireland, Michelle L O’Connor (Levy)
has been performing on and exploring the possibilities of bowed string instruments for over 27 years. Ms. O’Connor studied medieval vielle with Shira Kammen, earned a Masters in Ritual Chant & Song from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (University of Limerick), and studied music at Brown University. She has performed internationally with an eclectic variety of ensembles, including Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI, Keltia Productions, and The Boston Camerata, and Class V Music, an ensemble dedicated to creating music on whitewater rafting trips. She’s been a featured performer at the Vancouver Early Music Festival (2013) with Sequentia & The Elaine Adair Ensemble as well as at the Connecticut Early Music Festival (2010) with Istanpitta Early Music Ensemble, and at the New England Folk Festival2013 (NEFFA) with her folk dance band, TriTonic. In Ireland, she performs with the Limerick Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Limerick Orchestra, and teaches violin and viola at Redemptorist Centre of Music. During the summer, she enjoys playing fiddle for American contra dance and English country dance camps in the United States.
TEACHING
Michelle is certified in both the Mark O’Connor String Method and the Orff-Shulwerk approach to teaching music. Specializing in Early Music, folk fiddle styles, and improvisation, she nurtures creative string players with solid technique.
has been performing on and exploring the possibilities of bowed string instruments for over 27 years. Ms. O’Connor studied medieval vielle with Shira Kammen, earned a Masters in Ritual Chant & Song from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (University of Limerick), and studied music at Brown University. She has performed internationally with an eclectic variety of ensembles, including Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI, Keltia Productions, and The Boston Camerata, and Class V Music, an ensemble dedicated to creating music on whitewater rafting trips. She’s been a featured performer at the Vancouver Early Music Festival (2013) with Sequentia & The Elaine Adair Ensemble as well as at the Connecticut Early Music Festival (2010) with Istanpitta Early Music Ensemble, and at the New England Folk Festival2013 (NEFFA) with her folk dance band, TriTonic. In Ireland, she performs with the Limerick Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Limerick Orchestra, and teaches violin and viola at Redemptorist Centre of Music. During the summer, she enjoys playing fiddle for American contra dance and English country dance camps in the United States.
TEACHING
Michelle is certified in both the Mark O’Connor String Method and the Orff-Shulwerk approach to teaching music. Specializing in Early Music, folk fiddle styles, and improvisation, she nurtures creative string players with solid technique.
Patricia Vaughan - Violin
Details coming soon
Niamh Irwin - Flute, Recorder, Piano / Accompanist
Niamh Irwin is an accomplished flute, recorder and piano player. She has competed at local Feile Luimni competitions and Feis Ceoil, as well as completing ABRSM exams in her chosen instruments and theory, and most recently diplomas in big performance and teaching. Locally Niamh is a member of the University of Limerick Orchestra and Mary Immaculate College Choral society, as well as being the choir director of the Monaleen Parish choir.
Niamh is a final year music student in Mary Immaculate College, and has recently undertaken study abroad placements in both San Antonio, Texas and Clermont-Ferrand , France. Over the past year Niamh has taken part in many orchestras and choirs internationally which include the UIW chorale and cardinal singers, UIW orchestra, Orchestre d’Harmonie Clermont Ferrand and BISYOC.
Niamh is a final year music student in Mary Immaculate College, and has recently undertaken study abroad placements in both San Antonio, Texas and Clermont-Ferrand , France. Over the past year Niamh has taken part in many orchestras and choirs internationally which include the UIW chorale and cardinal singers, UIW orchestra, Orchestre d’Harmonie Clermont Ferrand and BISYOC.
Christopher Quigley - Guitar/Electric Guitar/Ukulele
Christopher Quigley began learning the guitar at age 12 and has been performing since age 14. In 2016 he graduated from Limerick Institute of Technology with a B. Hons in Music Production and during that time was President of the LIT Music Society as well as curating music installations for events and arranging an 18 piece band performance for the Richard Harris Film Festival.
Chris is also very active in the local music community, being part of DIYLK (a local music collective who run shows for independant artists) and the Limerick Improvised Music Project as well as a residency in the Cork Improvised Music Club. He is also one of the organisers for Feile Na Greine, a free festival ran in Limerick City centre featuring Irish talent from across the country. This work also overlaps into his touring schedule which sees him playing dates in England and Ireland regularly as well as Glastonbury, Body&Soul etc.
Lastly of note would be his passion for composition and production. Chris has written and performer on several of his own albums and recorded dozens of projects for other artists. Many of these projects receiving critical acclaim from the likes of Nialler9, Ray Wingnut (SpinSW) The Thin Air and Jim Carroll (Irish Times). His work as an arranger and producer have given him a solid, real world view of music theory and the mechanics of various music styles.
Chris is also very active in the local music community, being part of DIYLK (a local music collective who run shows for independant artists) and the Limerick Improvised Music Project as well as a residency in the Cork Improvised Music Club. He is also one of the organisers for Feile Na Greine, a free festival ran in Limerick City centre featuring Irish talent from across the country. This work also overlaps into his touring schedule which sees him playing dates in England and Ireland regularly as well as Glastonbury, Body&Soul etc.
Lastly of note would be his passion for composition and production. Chris has written and performer on several of his own albums and recorded dozens of projects for other artists. Many of these projects receiving critical acclaim from the likes of Nialler9, Ray Wingnut (SpinSW) The Thin Air and Jim Carroll (Irish Times). His work as an arranger and producer have given him a solid, real world view of music theory and the mechanics of various music styles.
Fiana hails from Castleconnell, Co Limerick. She comes from a family which has been involved in Irish music for three generations and was reared in a household immersed in the Irish music tradition. Her grandmother was an instrument maker and her aunts include two all-Ireland winning harpists and an all-Ireland winning concertina player.
She began learning the piano when she was 8 years old and progressed to the harp 2 years later, after her grandmother Rita decided that she would like another harp player in the family. Fiana started learning the harp at Limerick school of music in 2000 from the renowned harper Dr. Janet Harbison and later continued lessons with her in the Irish Harp Centre when it was opened in 2002.
Fiana became heavily involved with Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann at the age of 15, where she competed through the years, right up to senior level. Her achievements include numerous All-Ireland medals as well as achieving first place in the Harp Slow Airs competition in 2012. Fiana has won numerous prizes at local harp festivals, including those in Keadue and Granard and the senior title at the O’Carolan Harp festival in Nobber, Co. Meath in 2009.
Her own students are now beginning to gain recognition through competition which includes the winning of All-Ireland medals at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann as well as other local competitions. She has also given workshops both in Ireland and abroad. These include workshops for the Blossom Harp School, based between Co. Clare and Co. Galway, The Transpennine Harps society and Glasgow Harp society which are both branches of the Clársach Society.
Fiana completed her BA in Irish Music and Dance in 2012 with a First Class Honours degree at the University of Limerick. She went onto graduate from Newcastle University, UK with an Mmus in Musicology in 2013. During her studies she has had the opportunity to learn from a number of renowned teachers such as Holly Geraghty, Michelle Mulcahy, Gráinne Hambly, Laoíse Kelly, Cormac de Barra, Michael Rooney, Rachel Hair and Máire Ní Chathasaigh to name but a few.
Fiana has toured extensively in countries such as Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Cyprus and the USA as a member of the Irish Harp Orchestra. As well as giving solo concert performances, she has also collaborated with flautist Matthew Dean on whose solo album “Trasna Na Farraige” she featured. Highlights of her career to date include performing for former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, The Emperor and Empress of Japan and other state officials and dignitaries as well as performing in front of 50,000 people as part of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Trafalgar Square in London in 2014.
“Fiana completed the Comhaltas TTCT teaching Diploma in 2014 as well as their Adjudicators training course. She continues to teach and perform; bringing this wealth of experience of the tradition to her own students and audiences alike while pursuing a PhD at the University of Limerick in Music and Tourism.
