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.

Darren Loughran is a classical guitarist & guitar teacher hailing from Dublin. Growing up in a musical household, his father a traditional concertina player and his mother whom dabbled with the guitar, Darren was greatly encouraged and exposed to music from an early age. Having started on wind instruments as a child with his school band, Darren had his first recording experience at the age of nine and performed with the band in numerous competitions and concerts across the country, mainly Irish music.

At the age of 14, Darren received his first guitar and in his teens studied with guitar teacher Tony Lee. Following this Darren completed a diploma in music performance and technology before moving on to study classical guitar with Alan Grundy at the Dublin Conservatory of Music (DIT) and was the first student to receive their Advanced 2 diploma. Darren has also received instruction on a number of occasions from world renowned classical guitarist Denis Azabagic.

Irish baritone Dylan Rooney, raised in Co. Tipperary, completed a Bachelor in Music Performance degree at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Trinity College in Dublin, under the vocal tutelage of Virginia Kerr. Subsequently, he completed a Masters in Performance degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, with former singing teacher, Robert Dean. Since completing his studies, he continues voice lessons with Vocal Studies professor, Russell Smythe.

Some of Dylan’s recent performance highlights include soloist at:

- Bray Choral Society Concert (Mozart Requiem and Goodall’s Eternal Light) – Dublin, IRL
- Veronica Dunne Young Irish Singers Bursary – Dublin, IRL
- Summer Festival of Opera at Killruddery House – Dublin, IRL

Further abroad, Dylan represented the Royal Irish Academy of Music as one of its chosen ambassadors, performing a series of concerts entitled Artist’s Choice – New York, USA. He has also performed at various public events in Italy, most notably as part of the Arte Lirica Festival – Veneto, ITL.

Dylan’s operatic performances to date include:

- Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia (Officer)
- Mozart’s La Finta Giardinera (Nardo)
- Britten’s Noye’s Fludde (Noye)
- The Irish premiere of Francesca Caccini’s Alcina (Ruggiero)

Throughout the years, Dylan has achieved several national awards and bursaries through classical singing competitions, as part of Feis Ceoil. More recently, he was a prize-winner at the Veronica Dunne Young Irish Singers Bursary.

Dylan has also participated in several masterclasses in Ireland and abroad, with esteemed singers and coaches such as: Dame Anne Murray, Brenda Hurley, Dr. Matteo Dalle Fratte, Bruno Caproni, and Julian Evans.

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 classical trained musician from India, having completed his Masters in Classical String Performance from the University of Limerick under Kathrine Hunka from 2018-2020. He joined the Sing out with Strings teaching program in Limerick and continued with it till 2020 alongside teaching the Irish Chamber Youth Orchestra in Limerick.

After completing his Masters his first teaching job was at The Cavan Academy of Music at County Cavan where he taught young students and adults preparing them for examinations under ABRSM and RIAM. Afterwards he got several teaching jobs in Dublin, Ennis, Charleville and Limerick. He also acquired a Teaching Council license in 2022 and is in the panel of teachers for The Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. He also has part time teaching hours at The Dublin School of Music in Tallaght and Terenure.

With regards to his performance experience, He has been playing with different orchestras since a very young age and was a part of different community orchestras ever since his visit to Ireland . For a while he did sub for the National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin. He also has his own ensemble called the Genie Ensemble where they merge different styles of music together creating something different with thier classical training.

Apart from music, Adi is heavily invested in his life away from music which includes Tango, West African Drumming and Dancing, Slow Waltz, Salsa and Bachata. He believes music and dance are co related and any child/adult can learn to incorporate both in their lives and be happy.

Emma Power is a mezzo-soprano hailing from Waterford. They recently completed a Masters of Music Performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, studying under Imelda Drumm and Dearbhla Collins. Emma specializes in operatic and choral music, as well as experimental performance art.

Recently Emma has performed as a soloist with the NSO, and as a recital artist for the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival 2024. They are a recipient of the Mezzo Solo Cup, The Margaret Burke-Sheridan Cup, the Mrs. P.J. Geoghegan Memorial Cup, The Lieder Prize, and the Mahler Prize at the Feis Ceoil. Emma will appear in the INO 2024/2025 season as a chorus member.

Emma teaches singing of all levels, music theory, and beginner piano grades.

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.

Petar Krivitsky is an established multi-instrumentalist performer and teacher born in Sofia, Bulgaria. His musical training and education varies from the styles of classical to rock and jazz music. He has graduated and received professional certification from the "National School of Music - Lyubomir Pipkov" (Bulgaria), specialising in "Classical Double Bass". Thereafter he completes a dual "Bachelor of Arts" degree at the "National Academy of Music - Pancho Vladigerov, Bulgaria" (three years) followed by a one year "Erasmus exchange" in "DCU", Dublin with Guitar and Double Bass in the areas of "Jazz and contemporary music performance".

Petar has played music from the age of ten, with Guitar and Ukulele being his first instruments. At the age of fourteen he actively picks up the upright bass and bass guitar, whilst continuing to develop his guitar skills. At that time he participates in several domestic and international electric guitar competitions where he is placed 1-st prize on multiple occasions and has been awarded musical instruments. Alongside them, he also signs up and wins many Classical Double Bass competitions, where he gains success and valuable experience. During that period, he performs in rock and funk bands playing the electric bass. In 2016 he performs a fully coordinated live show with his neo-funk group in Bulgaria with American saxophonist Casey Benjamin, who is a member of the Robert Glasper Experiment, which won a Grammy Award for "Best R&B Album" for their album Black Radio. In 2018 he travels with his high school Big Band as a guitar player to Cincinnati, USA, upon invitation to take part in a jazz big band competition where they win 1-st place among five other American ensembles. In most recent times, Petar participates in several Jazz projects, playing double bass and traveling abroad for festivals. He is a teacher in DSM since September of 2023 and has thoroughly proved himself to be an innovative provider of musical knowledge and practical skill assets, amongst all age groups of students.

Lucy Champion was born in 1966 in Worcestershire, England. She graduated from the London College of Music in 1987 with a graduate honours degree, specialising in acoustics and sound recording. Upon leaving college she remained in London, working as a professional singer, piano and singing teacher and radio presenter.
From 1989-1991 she was the personal assistant to the Chief Executive and Chairman of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1993 she moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to take up the role of Concerts and Events Manager for the Ulster Orchestra, a post she held for five years.
In 1998 Lucy was appointed as Education and Community Outreach Manager at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. The Education Programme received two Business2Arts Awards in 2003 and 2004 for its innovative community projects.

In 1998 Lucy left the National Concert Hall in order to pursue more freelance activities. Since then she has been working as a choral workshop facilitator, choral conductor, vocal coach, piano and general musicianship teacher.

In February 2021 she was the Education Officer for the National Opera House, Wexford, heading up their new Education & Community Programme, a post she held for two years.

In March 2021 Lucy qualified as an Alexander Technique teacher and is a member of the Irish Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (ISATT). She works with individuals and groups at
Lucy is also Education Co-ordinator and singer with the vocal ensemble ANÚNA and is a featured soloist on eleven of their albums; she is also a soloist on the soundtrack of “Diablo III” (Blizzard Games 2013) and in 2018 was featured on the album “Xenogears : Original Soundtrack Revival Disc - The First and the Last”.

Lucy lives in Dublin with her husband, the composer Michael McGlynn, and their two daughters.

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.

Born in Yorkshire, Rohan Harron is a violinist and composer, currently studying at RIAM. As a performer, he has been a featured young artist with Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble, participated in the West Cork Chamber Music’s Fringe Festival and is the co-founder of the contemporary music ensemble ‘Outside the Lines’.

As a composer, he was the winner of the Milligan Fox Medal for his choral setting of ‘Weile, Weile, Weile’ for upper voices and also commissioned by Sing Ireland to write for the Irish Youth Training Choir as part of their ‘Unspoken Words, Unheard Voices’ project. In late 2023 was commissioned by Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir to write a string orchestra piece ‘From Dawn to Dusk’ to accompany Ola Gjeilo’s Sunrise Mass and his string quartet ‘Psychotia’, was performed by the Solas Quartet on their 2023 Irish tour and also at the National Concert Hall’s ‘Migrations’ String Quartet weekend in 2024.

Rohan has taught violin and piano at DSM since 2022

Luke Stanley is an Irish Baritone who graduated from Trinity Laban conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2023 with a Bmus in Vocal performance, where he studied under Jon Christos and Lynton Atkinson.

In July of 2022, he played the role of Giulio Strozzi in TLOperas production of “Strozzi!”. In February 2023, he was a chorus member in Uncovered Opera Company's production of Verdi's "Macbeth", and in March 2023, he was a chorus member in The Opera Makers’ premier of "Der Wald" by Ethel Smyth.

He was an understudy Burgher and chorus member in Pegasus Opera Company’s Double Bill of "The Six of Calais" and "Ruth", both by Philip Hagemann. He played Captain Robert Walton in TL Opera's production of “Frankenstein” by Libby Larsen.

Over this last year, he has performed as a chorus member in Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s production of Giulio Cesare In Egitto by G.F. Handel, the National Symphony Orchestra’s Production of Lurline by William Wallace, and in Irish National Opera’s 2024/2025 season he was a chorus member for their productions of ‘Beatrice and Benedict’ by Hector Berlioz, ‘Rigoletto’ by Giuseppe Verdi and ‘The Flying Dutchman’ by Richard Wagner.

In may of 2025, he was a chorus member in BVOF’s Concert Production of Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell.

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.

Bláthnaid is a soprano from Co. Kildare with first class honours from University College Dublin in both BA Music & Drama and Bachelor of Music. Most recently, Bláthnaid made her professional solo debut with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland alongside esteemed mezzo-soprano, Tara Erraught. Her operatic engagements include the title role in Puccini's Suor Angelica, Clorinda in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Aunt in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Julia Bertram in Dove's Mansfield Park and cover the title role in Wallace's Lurline. She has also sung in Irish National Opera's productions of Verdi's La Traviata and Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict, and the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Chorus in Verdi's Macbeth and Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice.

Bláthnaid is a multi-prize winner, having won The Percy Whitehead Cup and Veronica Dunne Operatic Duo at Feis Ceoil 2024. She enjoys performing recitals, and has represented the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival at their recitals in conjunction with The Castlemartyr Resort and Waterford Whisky Distillery in 2023/2024, and performed a Young Artist Recital as part of Boyle Arts Festival 2022. Other notable engagements include soprano solos in National Concert Hall, Dublin, Carnegie Hall, New York and 3Arena, Dublin.

André Stokes is a young violinist based locally in Terenure, Dublin.
Having started at the age of five with Maria Kelemen, he is a recent graduate with 1 st
class honours of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where he studied with Mia
Cooper and later with Prof. Michael D'Arcy.
André has both served as leader of and appeared as soloist with the Dublin Youth
Symphony Orchestra, and regularly freelances with the National Symphony
Orchestra of Ireland. He has also performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra, and in
late 2024 toured across China with Camerata Ireland.
André has experience with a wide range of idioms across the classical music genre,
and is particularly passionate about chamber music. He is the 2025 winner of the
Feis Ceoil's Arthur Catterall Cup, which he achieved with a performance of the Berg
Violin Concerto – a piece rarely heard in Ireland.
When not practising, André can usually be found taking wildlife photos in the Dublin
mountains, attempting to brew the perfect cup of filter coffee, or playing Mario Kart!

Ian is a contemporary guitar player from Dublin with a wealth of experience as a recording artist and session player having worked on projects in Windmill Lane, Sun Studios, Westland Row and Darklands Audio - some of the top studios in the country.

He began studying the art of Blues guitar at a young age before progressing into genres such as Jazz, Soul and Funk in later years. Ian picked up the bass guitar subsequently and has enjoyed a successful recording career as a bass player also.

He formerly hosted his own Jazz and Blues radio “The Time Out Suite” show on Dublin South FM 93.9 in 2018 before standing in as a host for Dublin City FM’s show “Glorious Noise” on 106.3 in 2022.

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.

Matthew O'Connell is a Dublin-based guitarist, educator and composer with an ability to play and teach a diverse range of styles from pop, rock, jazz and many more. Matthew obtained a first class honours in his degree in Jazz and contemporary music performance from DCU in 2023. Since then he has gone on to hone his craft as a musician and educator. He has taught extensively over the past 4 years with many students from all ages and a diverse range of styles. He has also played a part in many groups and projects as a leader and sideman such as the Matt O’Connell quartet, Tom Maxwell Organ trio and ‘Blue Notes’ featuring highly acclaimed Irish jazz artist Ronan Guilfoyle. He has also worked extensively for the last three years with accomplished guitarist John Keogh in their duo guitar project ‘2 Guitars”. As an emerging artist on the Irish jazz scene, O'Connell has been a finalist for the Young Irish Jazz Musician 2022 and was awarded the Maggys Farm award by the DCU Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance Department in 2023. Cormac O’Brien, Chair of the BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music at DCU said: “Matthew O'Connell has shown incredible talent and ability since beginning his studies at DCU and has gone on to excel as a guitarist and musician.

Eva has recently completed her Bachelor of Music Performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin with first class honours. From a young age she has enjoyed playing violin in various ensembles, orchestras and chamber music groups and with these groups has performed as part of ChamberFest Dublin as well as concerts abroad including Sweden and Belgium. She is currently a member of the RIAM Philharmonia where she enjoys learning and playing the orchestral music of many different eras.
As a soloist Eva has taken part in masterclasses and lessons with many renowned violinists such as Ilya Gringolts and Hyeyoon Park. In June 2025 she received Very Highly Commended in the Arthur Catterall Cup in the Feis Ceoil playing the Khachaturian Violin Concerto which she has spent the last year of her degree researching. She hopes to continue her research into the blending and fusion of classical and folk music and is always trying to find a way to incorporate what she has learnt so far into her playing and into her work.
With 4 years of teaching experience, Eva loves to show, share and pass on her love of playing music with others and always approaches each student in a way which suits their individual needs.

Mengze Shen is a Chinese pianist based in Dublin, Ireland. She completed her Master’s degree in
Piano Performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in June 2025, studying with
Professor Lance Coburn (piano) and Professor David Adams (harpsichord and organ). Her
repertoire encompasses solo piano, early keyboards, chamber music, and accompaniment.
She was selected in August 2024 for the Camerata Ireland Academy, where she received
mentorship from Professor Barry Douglas and performed at the Clandeboye Music Festival.
Recent solo highlights include Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor at RIAM’s Piano Concertos
Concert (Dec 2024) and a solo recital at RIAM (May 2025). She has also appeared at RIAM’s
International Early Music Day (harpsichord, 2024; organ, 2025) and the International Piano Day
Concert (2025).
As a collaborative pianist, Mengze has performed widely. She appeared with violinist Vladimir
Jablokov at the National Concert Hall for The Sea of Change Choir concert (Mar 2025),
collaborated with a trumpeter and soprano at RIAM ChamberFest (Apr 2025), and served as a
collaborative pianist at the Dublin Feis Ceoil (Jun 2025). In September 2025, she performed with
renowned Korean violinist Jisun Min at St. Ann’s Church, Dawson, presenting sonatas for violin
and piano by Francis Poulenc and César Franck.
During the 2023–2024 season, she won second prize in the Audrey Chisholm Sonata Cup and
received a Highly Commended distinction in the Margaret O’Hea Recital Cup.
Alongside her performance career, Mengze is deeply committed to music education. She
combines her artistic experience with teaching, aiming to inspire the next generation of
musicians. She also has four years of experience teaching private piano lessons in both Ireland
and China.