Owen Gilhooly - Baritone / Director
Owen Gilhooly is the founder and Director of Mid-West Vocal Academy & Music School and is regarded as one of Ireland's leading baritones. A graduate of the Royal College of Music and National Opera Studio, he studied in Ireland with Jean Holmes and later with Conor Farren. He is also currently
pursuing Doctoral Studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music where he also a Teaching Fellow.
He represented Ireland at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2007 and in 2009, made his Viennese debut singing the title role in Conti's Don Chisciotte in Serena Morena (Musikverkstatt Wien). His roles for OTC include Figaro Barber of Seville, Dandini La cenerentola, Marcello La bohème, Father Hansel and Gretel Don Fernando Fidelio and Papageno The Magic Flute. Recent roles include King Louis XV1 The Ghosts of Versailles and Lord Salt The Golden Ticket (Wexford Festival), Malatesta Don Pasquale (English Touring Opera), Rossini's Figaro (Stanley Hall Opera), Albert Werther (Les Azuriales Opera), and the General in Luke Bedford's Seven Angels (The Opera Group).
He has sung in concert with the RTÉ NSO, Irish Chamber and Ulster Orchestras, the Bournemouth and Tokyo Symphony Orchestras, the Royal Liverpool and London Philharmonic Orchestras. With the BBC Symphony Orchestra he has sung Joseph and Polydorus in Berlioz l'Enfance du Christ conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, La Poigne/Waiter Margot la Rouge and The Bridegroom in Judith Weir's The Vanishing Bridegroom, and for the BBC Proms Bill Bobstay HMS Pinafore and Janacek's Osud.
Most recently he appeared at the Buxton Festival as Ivan in Rimsky Korsakov's Kaschey the Immortal and Bailiff in Sibelius' The Maiden in the Tower to critical acclaim. He also joined Wide Open Opera singing Hirt in its inaugural production of Tristan und Isolde.
Future plans include Luke Bedford’s new opera ‘Through his Teeth’ for the Royal Opera Covent Garden, Carmina Burana at the Cork International Choral Festival Mozart Coronation Mass with Tribal Chamber Choir, Beethoven in Spain with Camerata Ireland. As well as Il Barbiere di Siviglia in France. The 2014/15 season begins with Gill in Wolf Ferrari's 'Susanna's Secret' for Glasthule Opera, a return to Scottish Opera for La Cenerentola, Brahms Requiem with the RTE NSO and Messiah with the Irish Baroque Orchestra.
He represented Ireland at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2007 and in 2009, made his Viennese debut singing the title role in Conti's Don Chisciotte in Serena Morena (Musikverkstatt Wien). His roles for OTC include Figaro Barber of Seville, Dandini La cenerentola, Marcello La bohème, Father Hansel and Gretel Don Fernando Fidelio and Papageno The Magic Flute. Recent roles include King Louis XV1 The Ghosts of Versailles and Lord Salt The Golden Ticket (Wexford Festival), Malatesta Don Pasquale (English Touring Opera), Rossini's Figaro (Stanley Hall Opera), Albert Werther (Les Azuriales Opera), and the General in Luke Bedford's Seven Angels (The Opera Group).
He has sung in concert with the RTÉ NSO, Irish Chamber and Ulster Orchestras, the Bournemouth and Tokyo Symphony Orchestras, the Royal Liverpool and London Philharmonic Orchestras. With the BBC Symphony Orchestra he has sung Joseph and Polydorus in Berlioz l'Enfance du Christ conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, La Poigne/Waiter Margot la Rouge and The Bridegroom in Judith Weir's The Vanishing Bridegroom, and for the BBC Proms Bill Bobstay HMS Pinafore and Janacek's Osud.
Most recently he appeared at the Buxton Festival as Ivan in Rimsky Korsakov's Kaschey the Immortal and Bailiff in Sibelius' The Maiden in the Tower to critical acclaim. He also joined Wide Open Opera singing Hirt in its inaugural production of Tristan und Isolde.
Future plans include Luke Bedford’s new opera ‘Through his Teeth’ for the Royal Opera Covent Garden, Carmina Burana at the Cork International Choral Festival Mozart Coronation Mass with Tribal Chamber Choir, Beethoven in Spain with Camerata Ireland. As well as Il Barbiere di Siviglia in France. The 2014/15 season begins with Gill in Wolf Ferrari's 'Susanna's Secret' for Glasthule Opera, a return to Scottish Opera for La Cenerentola, Brahms Requiem with the RTE NSO and Messiah with the Irish Baroque Orchestra.
Edel O Brien - Mezzo Soprano
Edel O'Brien comes from Kilrush, County Clare.
At the age of nineteen she won the Margaret Burke-Sheridan Cup at the Dublin Feis Ceoil. After graduating with an Honours Masters Degree in Music and Performance from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Edel was awarded a scholarship to study at Trinity College of Music, London. There she gained Distinction in her Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Studies as well as winning the Vocal Faculty Prize and the College Gold Medal.
While still at TCM, Edel was offered an Italian Government Scholarship to study for one academic year at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, Milan.
Having completed her studies in London she was presented with the opportunity to sing in a BBC Masterclass with the opera director David Pountney broadcast from the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. There she sang Suzuki in extracts of Madam Butterfly.
In 2002, Edel was one of seven singers selected out of 200 applicants worldwide to join the Centre de Formation Lyrique, Opera Bastille, Opera National de Paris. There she won the Prix Lyrique which is awarded annually to one male and one female at the CFL.
Edel has much experience in opera having sung various roles with the Opera Bastille, Opera Ireland, the Anna Livia International Opera Festival and Opera de Rouen. In oratorio she has sung as soloist with the Malcolm Sargent Festival Choir, Dartington Festival Choir, St. Paul's Choral Society, Hammersmith; the Culwick Choral Society, Dublin; Goethe Institut Choir, the Dublin Bach Singers, Dublin County Choir, Galway Choral Association, Limerick Choral Society, the Lismore Singers, Maynooth Choral Society, Carlow Choral Society and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra.
In recital, Edel has sung in the Church of St-Martin-in-the-Field, London; Leighton House, Kensington; the Royal Chapel, The Royal Naval College, Greenwich; the National Concert Hall, Dublin; Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin; Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Foster PLace, Dublin,
the Kate O'Brien Weekend, Limerick; Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon and the National Library of Ireland.
Edel has sung in Masterclasses for Teresa Berganza, Ileana Cotrubas, Jose Van Dam, Alexandrina Miltcheva, Robert Lloyd, Felicity Palmer and Ian Partridge.
At the age of nineteen she won the Margaret Burke-Sheridan Cup at the Dublin Feis Ceoil. After graduating with an Honours Masters Degree in Music and Performance from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Edel was awarded a scholarship to study at Trinity College of Music, London. There she gained Distinction in her Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Studies as well as winning the Vocal Faculty Prize and the College Gold Medal.
While still at TCM, Edel was offered an Italian Government Scholarship to study for one academic year at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, Milan.
Having completed her studies in London she was presented with the opportunity to sing in a BBC Masterclass with the opera director David Pountney broadcast from the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. There she sang Suzuki in extracts of Madam Butterfly.
In 2002, Edel was one of seven singers selected out of 200 applicants worldwide to join the Centre de Formation Lyrique, Opera Bastille, Opera National de Paris. There she won the Prix Lyrique which is awarded annually to one male and one female at the CFL.
Edel has much experience in opera having sung various roles with the Opera Bastille, Opera Ireland, the Anna Livia International Opera Festival and Opera de Rouen. In oratorio she has sung as soloist with the Malcolm Sargent Festival Choir, Dartington Festival Choir, St. Paul's Choral Society, Hammersmith; the Culwick Choral Society, Dublin; Goethe Institut Choir, the Dublin Bach Singers, Dublin County Choir, Galway Choral Association, Limerick Choral Society, the Lismore Singers, Maynooth Choral Society, Carlow Choral Society and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra.
In recital, Edel has sung in the Church of St-Martin-in-the-Field, London; Leighton House, Kensington; the Royal Chapel, The Royal Naval College, Greenwich; the National Concert Hall, Dublin; Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin; Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Foster PLace, Dublin,
the Kate O'Brien Weekend, Limerick; Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon and the National Library of Ireland.
Edel has sung in Masterclasses for Teresa Berganza, Ileana Cotrubas, Jose Van Dam, Alexandrina Miltcheva, Robert Lloyd, Felicity Palmer and Ian Partridge.
Helen Houlihan - Soprano
Helen has enjoyed a busy career in the singing world performing regularly in concert, recital, opera and oratorio. On the concert and recital platform has performed at several of the leading Arts Festivals most notably at Belfast Festival at Queens, Galway arts festival, the Fortune theatre London, the National Concert Hall, the Bank of Ireland concert series, and John field room recital series.
She has worked with Opera Ireland, Wexford Opera, and Opera Theatre Company, and in London at the Holland Park Opera Festival. Helen has been a guest soloist with the RTE Concert orchestra on a number of occasions, both in live performance and in studio broadcast. She recorded the sound track for the Frank McGuiness play “The Carthaginians”, and has appeared as a guest soloist on several live television shows.
Helen has trained with Jean Holmes in Limerick, and in London with Paul Hamburger, James Lockhart, and David Harper.
Irina Dernova - Piano / Academy 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.
Paul Ryan - Piano
A graduate of University College Cork, Paul is currently
based in Limerick as a piano teacher. He has studied with
a number of teachers, most recently Trevor Selby of
the Limerick School of Music. He holds both associate
and licentiate diplomas (LLCM) in piano teaching from the
London College of Music and has experience of leading
students through ABRSM practical and written examinations,
as well as Junior and Leaving cert. practicals. Paul also enjoys
being a member of a number of regional choral groups.
based in Limerick as a piano teacher. He has studied with
a number of teachers, most recently Trevor Selby of
the Limerick School of Music. He holds both associate
and licentiate diplomas (LLCM) in piano teaching from the
London College of Music and has experience of leading
students through ABRSM practical and written examinations,
as well as Junior and Leaving cert. practicals. Paul also enjoys
being a member of a number of regional choral groups.
Kayvon Sesar - Violin
Coming Soon
Eoghan Judge - Guitar
Coming Soon
