Our Music Teachers

Jasmin Gallagher is a violinist from Donegal who began playing the violin at a young age. She spent two of her four years of studies in Belfast at the Ulster College of Music, where she had the opportunity to attend a masterclass with Harry Cawood. Jasmin performed with the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra two years and was a member of the Ulster Youth Orchestra for five years. Currently, in her fourth year of the BMus Performance course at RIAM, she has participated in orchestral projects with the RIAM Philharmonic. Most recently, Jasmin performed with the National Symphony Orchestra as part of the 175th-anniversary celebration for RIAM. She is currently studying under Professor Mike d’Arcy.

Dublin-based classical guitarist and teacher Darren Loughran is recognised for his exceptional artistry, deep musical scholarship, and passion for education. He combines performance, arrangement, and pedagogy in a career that spans recitals, teaching posts, and scholarly work.

Studying initially with teacher Tony Lee, he later pursued formal study in classical guitar under Alan Grundy at the Dublin Conservatory of Music (DIT). Following his studies at DIT, Darren began studying under world-renowned classical guitarist Denis Azabagic (Roosevelt University, Chicago) for several years, working extensively on concert repertoire under his guidance.

He holds a Master of Music (MMus) degree in Performance and Musicology from Maynooth University, which underpins both his performance work and his academic pursuits.

Darren frequently gives solo recitals of classical guitar in Ireland, as well as abroad. His repertoire spans from early music through to contemporary works. In addition to solo work, he is often involved in arranging music and has contributed original guitar arrangements that form part of collections in the Irish Traditional Music Archive.

He has also collaborated with composers to produce new works for the classical guitar, premiering them in various concerts, including the Dublin International Guitar Symposium in 2019.

In addition to the guitar, Darren plays and teaches the renaissance lute and is a keen follower of the works of John Dowland.

Kristina Gerasimova is a flautist from Cyprus studying at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She is currently studying her Bachelors of Music Performance with Vourneen Ryan and Susan Doyle. In 2020, Kristina passed the ABRSM flute exam 8 GRADE with distinction and was a member of the Youth Symphony Orchestra as a piccolo player with maestro Giorgos Kunturis.

During her school studies at the Larnaca Music Lyceum, she took part in music flute competitions: April 2021, the international competition in Kharkov, Ukraine, was awarded the third prize; Nov 2021, pan-Greek competition Solon Mikhailidis, awarded with a diploma of distinction; June 2022, the first pan-Cypriot competition of music schools, was awarded the first prize.

In 2021 she attended a master class with Natalia Geraki Prof. Athens Conservatoire and Lecturer State at University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart.

Adi is a classically trained musician from India who earned his Master’s in Classical String Performance from the University of Limerick (2018–2020), where he studied under Katherine Hunka. During his time in Limerick, he participated in the "Sing out with Strings" program and served as an violin instructor for the Irish Chamber Youth Orchestra.

Following his Master’s, Adi went forward with his teaching career at The Cavan Academy of Music, preparing students of all ages for ABRSM and RIAM examinations. He subsequently held the same teaching position across Dublin, Ennis, Charleville, and Limerick. In 2022, he obtained his Teaching Council license and joined the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board panel. He also completed a tenure at the Limerick School of Music before transitioning to a more extensive role with The Dublin School of Music.

Adi’s performance career spans many years; he has been an active orchestral musician since childhood and has been involved with various community orchestras since moving to Ireland. He has also served as a substitute player for the National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin. Additionally, he leads the "Genie Ensemble," a group that utilises classical training to fuse diverse musical styles.

In June 2022, Adi began arranging Indian folk music for the UK-based Music Teachers Board (MTB), an accredited examination board comparable to ABRSM and RIAM. By June 2026, he advanced to the role of trainee violin examiner. He now conducts global assessments via video submissions, balancing this responsibility alongside his ongoing teaching and performance commitments.

Beyond his professional life, Adi is an enthusiastic practitioner of Argentinian Tango, West African and Samba drumming and dancing and Ballroom dancing. He believes deeply in the synergy between music and dance, advocating for their integration to foster happiness and personal growth in students of all ages.

Aurora is from Madrid, Spain but has been living and teaching music in Ireland for the last 20 years. Focusing primarily on the classical genre, she prepares students for the ABRSM/RIAM exams as well Junior and Leaving Cert. Aurora also loves teaching students who want to learn just for fun and enjoys working on pop, rock and jazz pieces.

Aurora graduated from the Superior Conservatory of Madrid with degrees in Piano (1998), Theory of Music and Accompaniment (1999) and Musicology (2002). She also an MLit in Irish Folklore (2007) from UCD.

Lorna Breen is a Soprano from Co. Wicklow. In 2017, she graduated with Distinction from the Masters in Music Performance course at the Royal Irish Academy of Music/Trinity College Dublin under the tutelage of Dr Veronica Dunne and Dr Dearbhla Collins. In 2015, Lorna graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Music Performance from the RIAM. Lorna is a multiple prize winner in the ESB Feis Ceoil having won 16 Senior Solo Vocal Competitions including the Mrs P.J Geoghegan Memorial Cup (2021), Lieder Prize, Dermot Troy Trophy & Young Cup (2018), The German Government, Plunket Greene, Percy Whitehead & Thomas Moore Cups (2017), Soprano Solo, Margaret Burke-Sheridan and Nancy Calthorpe Cups (2016), The Vincent O’Brien Memorial Cup (2015) & The Denis O'Sullivan Medal. Other 1st prizes include the Wicklow Male Voice Choir Bursary Competition (2018), Navan Young Opera Voice Competition (2017), The Stevenson Bursary, Ballymena & The Hazelwood House Bursary, Sligo Feis Ceoil. She was also a finalist in the National Concert Hall’s Bernadette Greevy Bursary. Lorna has been a member of the group ‘Anùna’ since 2020 and has performed with them on concert tours of Japan, The Netherlands, Belgium, China, Sweden, Italy & Sardinia (2024,2023,2022). She has also performed with them in Mont Saint Michel and Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, France (2023,2022). She is a soloist on their track "Earth Song" from their new album "Eilifð", recorded in both Ireland and Iceland. In 2023, Lorna also became a member of the vocal group ‘Systir’, touring with them in The Netherlands, Japan & Iceland. Notable solo performances include the ‘Raise Our Voices’ Concert with Tara Erraught & Dearbhla Collins in the National Concert Hall (Oct 2021), Soloist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra for their ‘Christmas Special’ in December 2018, Guest Soloist with the Wicklow Male Voice Choir for their Christmas Concert (December 2018), Soprano Soloist in Charpentier's ‘Messe de Minuit de Noel’ with the Goethe Institut Choir & Orchestra in the National Concert Hall (December 2017) & she was also the Soprano Soloist in Mozart’s ‘Great Mass in C minor’, ‘Missa Solemnis in C major’, and ‘Missa Solemnis in C minor’ with Dún Laoghaire Choral Society and Fishamble Sinfonia for their Mozart Mass Concert Series. During her Masters, Lorna performed in London as part of the ‘Conservatoires Ireland Showcase’ presented by Irish Heritage. That same year she also performed in ‘The Very Best Young Irish Performers’ concert presented by The National Opera House in association with Conservatories Ireland.

Emily Jane has been singing and performing since she can remember. With over twelve years of experience in musical theatre and stage performances, Emily Jane focuses on bringing the students character into each piece of music. With the Royal Irish Academy of Speech and Drama she has received distinctions in her Grade 10 exam , Public Speaking Proficiency exam and a first-class honours in her Acting Proficiency exam. She utilises this knowledge to inform her students about performance techniques and engaging with crowds.

Emily Jane has worked as a vocal teacher for over two years, successfully preparing students for auditions into 3rd level music programmes, Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate Music Practicals and ‘Rock School’ examinations.

Emily Jane recently finished her final year of study in DCU’s BA in Jazz and Contemporary Performance programme. She is one third of up-and-coming jazz vocal trio, ‘Mayflyes’. Her roles include being a lead vocalist, front woman, arranger and composer for the trio.

Emily Jane’s goal is to get each student comfortable with performing and expressing themselves through music.

Rising Stars recipient Matthew Mannion is originally from Billings, Montana but relocated with his family back to Ireland where he began and completed his studies, receiving his Undergraduate and Masters in Music Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Matthew has over a decade of performance experience and has performed with companies such as Irish National Opera, Opera Theater Company, Nouvel Opera Fribourg, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, Wide Open Opera, Ulysses Opera, Lyric Opera Ireland, Opera Collective Ireland, and the Cork Midsummer Festival. Most recently Matthew has performed in the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival, Summer Festival of Opera in Killruddery House, and performed with the Dublin City Choral Union, Wexford Festival Singers, Guinness Choir and the Goethe Choir.

He has performed many roles including Masetto in Don Giovanni, Melisso in Alcina, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro, and two world premiere roles Owen in The Stalls and Liam in Backstage both written by Tom Lane. His small and secondary roles include Morales in Carmen, Marchese in La Traviata, Un Chasseurin Guillaume Tell, Kellner 4 in Der Rosenkavalier, 2nd Prisoner in Fidelio, Victorian 4 in William Todd’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butterfly. Matthew has also sung as a soloist in oratorios such as The Messiah, Elijah, Stanford’s Mass in G, Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Charpentier’s Messe de Minuet, C.P.E. Bach’s Magnificat, and Haydn’s Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze. Matthew has been a finalist in the Bernadette Greevy Bursary, Glenarm Festival of Voice, Trench Award, and received 3rd place in the 2017 Irene Sanford Competition. He also was granted the Agility Award in 2022 by the Arts Council of Ireland to further fund his operatic studies.

As a teacher Matthew has multiple years of training and experience to enhance his teaching style. He has taught privately and at the Dublin School of Music for many years mentoring and guiding pupils through their RIAM and ABRSM grades, as well as junior and leaving certificate practicals with much success. Matthew also is a vocal tutor in Dublin City University. Most recently Matthew undertook the Singer’s and Teachers Training course run by Classical Voice Training to further hone his pedagogical skills and continues to look for ways to constantly improve. His belief is a teacher is a forever learner and to adapt to each individual student that comes through the door. His classroom is a fun and safe environment as learning music should enrich the lives of those studying it.

Aoife is a Dublin based composer and musician. Having studied in the Royal Irish Academy of music under composer Judith Ring and trumpeter Colm Byrne, Aoife has a diverse portfolio, having written and arranged for esteemed musicians and ensembles such as Elizabeth Hilliard, Izumi Kimura, Lina Andonovaska, Cora Venus Lunny, The Dublin Youth Choir, Symphonic Waves Orchestra and Trinity Orchestra.

Aoife is an experienced teacher, specialising in Piano, Trumpet, Saxophone and Clarinet.
They also have a diploma in compositional pedagogy and teaches leaving certificate music and music technology.

Aoife is the recipient of the Milligan Fox Medal for composition and was awarded the overall prize in The Christy Nolan Arts Award 2025.

Aoife is also the co-founder of the Sean Shannon Music Foundation, a non-profit organisation that creates opportunities for young musicians facing socioeconomic barriers in pursuing their music education. They have created successful partnerships with organisations such as glór arts centre, the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Music Generation Ireland.

Cúan is a tenor saxophonist, flautist and pianist. He has recently completed his degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance from DCU. He has received up to Grade 8 Classical piano certification with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He has been teaching private music lessons to all levels and ages groups for the past three years. With years of experience gigging with the wedding band Sax and the City, and playing with the jazz/soul group Mac Steady in venues such as The Sugar Club and Grand Social. He is deeply passionate about playing music and wants to pass on and share his knowledge in performance, music theory, musical expression and improvisation to his students.

Jonathan Stanley is the organist for Holy Trinity Rathmines and has several years experience of teaching piano privately. He was a chorister in St Patrick's Cathedral, studied grade 8 piano at the DIT conservatoire of music and drama under Ann Keary as well as the Archbishop's Certificate of Church Music for the Organ under Derek Verso and David Adams.
In 2024 Jonathan collaborated on a concept album exploring Ireland's relationship nature with singer-songwriter Victoria Johnston, entitled "Change is Coming". Nature has always provided inspiration for Jonathan's piano playing - over the summer he works as a sea-bird warden at the Little Tern Colony in Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow.
Nowadays, Jonathan enjoys playing everything from Bach's organ fugues to covers of modern artists with friends. He believes his classical training has played a huge role in his musical abilities and is passionate about helping students to get as much as they can out of their own music training.

Lanyi Yan finished her Master in Music Performance in the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in 2024 and Recital Artist Diploma in RIAM with both first class honours in 2025.
As a soloist, Lanyi has undertaken principal roles in various productions and concerts in Europe. Recently, she played the lead role in Vienna Opera Festival’s 2025 production. She collaborated with renowned ensembles in Europe and China, including Wiener Festspiele Ensemble, Erasmus Orchestra, RIAM Orchestra, Tianjin Symphony Orchestra and Lithuanian ContemPLAY Ensemble.
As a music teacher, Lanyi has four years experience of teaching private lessons of voice and piano in both Ireland and China. She teaches singing, music theory, choral music and piano.

Irish soprano Eva Maria Kavanagh is a recent graduate of the Royal Irish Academy of Music where she studied with Kathleen Tynan and Dearbhla Collins and will continue her studies on the Academy’s Recital Artist Diploma. During her studies, she was selected to participate in the Iain Burnside Song Project 2025-2026 in collaboration with The Juilliard School, working with internationally renowned artists and coaches.

Eva is a multiple prizewinner whose recent successes include winning the Gervase Elwes Memorial Cup, Dramatic Cup, and Milne Cup at the 2026 Feis Ceoil, following 1st prizes in the Plunket Greene Cup, Young Cup, Thomas Moore Cup, and Marchant Cup in 2024. She is also the recipient of the most recent John Pollard Bursary (RIAM & BVOF) recipient and Bríd Phelan Emerging Talent Award from Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, the Iréne Sandford Award 2024 at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Recent highlights include making her National Concert Hall Main Stage debut, appearing as a soloist on RTÉ Lyric FM broadcasts, and performing at Farmleigh House, the Austrian Embassy and the German Embassy. Her operatic performances include the title role of Rosina in Haydn’s La vera costanza and the title role of El Gato in Montsalvatge’s El Gato con Botas with RIAM.

She has worked with distinguished artists including Nicolò Sbulez, Adam Nielsen, Marianne Barrett, Roland Schubert, Bruno Caproni, Julian Evans and Jorge Chaminé.

Eva is delighted to joining the Wexford Festival Opera Factory for this coming season.

Soozie, is a critically acclaimed singer with vocal chops infusing jazz, classical, gospel, soul and folk music.
Having shared stages with some iconic acts such as Duran Duran, Take That, Outkast, The Dubliners, RTE Concert Orchestra, Damien Rice and Ennio Morricone the film music legend himself as well as many more, Soozie is equally comfortable on stages such as 3arena, The National Concert Hall, The National Opera House and Main Stage Electric Picnic as well as the intimate settings of JJ Smyths and private functions in various locations over Ireland such as Adare Manor, RDS Concert Hall, Dromoland Castle, more locally The Shelbourne, The Merrion and more.
Most recently holder of an MMus in Jazz, her early musical education originally learning the piano from age four, combines the best in classical training with innovative interpretation for the digital age. Learning from some of the best vocal coaches at an early age including prominent Opera Ireland legends, to traditional Irish players renowned in their field has given her an eclectic mix of musical influences during her formative years both early on and later during her undergrad Bachelors in Music.
With an additional background in musical theatre having attended performing arts schools in Dublin from a young age, she hopes to transfer this cross-genre training and knowledge onto each of her students.
On a personal note, I know nearly every mission statement mentions "passion" but I am seriously devoted to the power of music and I aim to instil this passion into the people around me through my performing and teaching and cheesy as it may sound, learning from each other.
Find out more about Sooz through her website and social media platforms at www.sooz.ie or Instagram @soozie_official.