Krista Audere (Latvia)
Krista Audere
Krista Audere (1989) graduated from Riga Dom Choir School (Latvia) in 2009, where she gained qualifications as a choir master and choral singer. She then attained a bachelor’s degree in choral conducting at Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (2013) while enriching her musical experience at the University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart. In 2013, Krista started a Master exchange program in choral conducting at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam where she later obtained the Master diploma and graduated Cum Laude in the June of 2016. In the years 2008-2014 Krista co-founded and conducted The Latvian University Mixed Choir Dziesmuvara. Alongside this position she undertook the duties of the second conductor of the VEF Culture Palace female choir Dzintars (2010-2013). Krista Audere is not only a conductor; she is also a singer. She has been a member of the youth choir Kamēr (2005-2008) and has also performed with various vocal ensembles. These successes resulted in a regular collaboration with the prestigious Latvian Radio Choir starting the year 2011. Since 2013, Krista has been a member of the Tenso European Chamber Choir and has participated in the Netherlands’ new singers project ‘Meesters&Gezellen’ (2014 and 2015). Moreover, in 2015 she has also collaborated with Cappella Amsterdam. From as for now, Krista is the conductor of the VU-Kamerkoor, the Student Choir of Wageningen (WSKOV), Kamerkoor Venus and works as a repetitor and guest conductor with several choirs and vocal ensembles in the Netherlands. In September 2019 she was given carte blanche to create her own program and conduct five concerts with the professional choir Cappella Amsterdam.
Marco Barbon (Italy)
Marco Barbon
Marco Barbon has always considered the Choir as the favourite tool to fully enjoy music and to express himself. He grew up in a family passionately involved in practicing choral music, so he started to cultivate his piano and singing skills since he was six years old. He has graduated from Agostino Steffani Conservatoire (Castelfranco Veneto) majoring in Piano Performance in 2011 and from Benedetto Marcello Conservatoire (Venice) majoring in Renaissance and Baroque singing in 2019. Marco continues his studies of choir conducting at Agostino Steffani Conservatoire under Professor Marco Berrini. In 2019 he has successfully participated to 4th National Choral Conducting Competition Le Mani in Suono of Arezzo (Italy) winning the 2nd prize. In 2016 he was appointed conductor of the Youth Choir of Veneto Region (Italy) in the framework of a national project designed by the National Federation of the Regional Choral Associations. The experiences he had so far as chorister in some of the most prestigious Italian choirs and with great European conductors, both as chorister and masterclass pupil, gave him the opportunity to professionally delve into choral conducting and singing, a passion that he pursues also practicing Voice education and therapy as Speech and Language therapist.
Alexander Lloyd Blake (United State of America)
Alexander Lloyd Blake
Alexander Lloyd Blake is the conductor of Tonality, a new choral ensemble focused on spreading a message of unity, peace, and social justice through a culturally diverse choral setting. Blake also serves as the Principal Associate Conductor of the National Children’s Chorus, where he conducts both the Los Angeles and New York City branches of the oldest and most experienced singers. Blake’s role will soon include diversity engagement to work toward a more diverse choral membership within the organization. He also serves as the Choir Director at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). As an arranger, Blake’s Wade in the Water was a featured arrangement at the North Carolina Music Educators Association convention in 2013 and is published with Santa Barbara Music Publishing. Blake has recently been requested for a commission by the New York City professional ensemble called Inspire to write a work on environmental justice. Other musical activities include an opera conducting premiere at the 2019 Prototype Festival in New York City, and preparing choirs for live performances with UCLA Center for the Art of Performance. Performances include MacArther Fellow Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music and Holiday Sauce concerts and soon Rachel Fuller’s Animal Requiem and Alex Somers’ Dawson City: Frozen Time Live! Blake completed the Doctorate in Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California in 2019. His Master of Music was completed at the University of California Los Angeles in 2014 and Blake completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance degree at Wake Forest University in 2010.
Pietro Consoloni (Italy)
Pietro Consoloni
Pietro Consoloni was born in Pisa in 1993. He began studying music with great passion from a young age and, because of this, now he is able to reach the world of music in various settings. Therefore, he started studies graduating Cum Laude, in Composition, at the Istituto di Studi Musicali Mascagni of Livorno. For the theater of Pisa, he composed new accompanying new of the: Rise and Fall of the City Mahagonny by B. Brecht, Pinocchio by C. Collodi and Tempest by W. Shakespeare, that were performed between the years 2013-2015. Later, he continued his musical studies, graduating Cum Laude in Organ and Organ Composition at the Conservatorio Puccini of La Spezia. Today, he regularly writes about sacred music for the magazine Bollettino Ceciliano of the Associazione Italiana S. Cecilia. Following his passion for conducting, he has attended master classes in orchestral conducting, Mozartian and Rossinian opera given by M° V. Parisi, in choir conducting by M° W. Marzilli. He is currently attending his master studies in choir conducting under M° W. Marzilli at the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Rome. He is also the founder and director of the chamber-music ensemble I Bei Legami, with which he successfully took part in several important music festivals. As organist, he conducts an intense concert activity, being invited to relevant national organ events. He is currently employed in Pisa as second organist at the Primaziale Cathedral, as first organist at the Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri church and as choir assistant master, at the Scuola Normale Superiore choir. Moreover, he is a member of the directive council of the Associazione Italiana Santa Cecilia. He took part with Prof. G. Baroffio to the publication of the historical book Musica in Cattedrale. Fonti storiche e carte musicali (Pacini-Editore 2019), dedicated to the archive of the Cappella musicale in Pisa.
Maidar Dambaev (Russia)
Maidar Dambaev
Maidar Dambaev was born in Ulan-Ude. In 2010, he went to Tchaikovsky College of Arts in the class of Honored Culture and Art Worker of Russia – Olga Polyakova. He was awarded with the State Prize of Buryatia 2013. In 2014, he received the First Prize at the Third National Competition of Choral Conductors in Kazan. After graduating the College of Arts with honors, he entered Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, the class of Honored Art Worker of the RSFSR, professor, former rector of the Conservatory – Boris Kulikov (1932-2018), consultant professor Stanislav Kalinin. During his studies, he went on tours with numerous Moscow choirs. As a part of Moscow Conservatory Choir, Maidar toured many Russian cities, as well as foreign countries: Austria, Poland, Serbia, China and Italy. He also participated in the XIX World Festival of Youth and Students in Sochi. In April 2018, he participated in Krasnoyarsk International Academic Choirs Conductors Competition. In 2018, he was awarded with a diploma at the Third Kastalsky International Choral Writing Competition for achievements in the art of choral writing. In April 2019, he received the First Prize at the National Competition of Choral Conductors in Yekaterinburg. Maidar worked with several professional choirs, including conducting the Choir of the National Guard of Russia (director Victor Eliseev). For the final exam, Maidar conducted the Choir of the Moscow Conservatory: Six pieces of composers of Buryatia and Credo of Franz Schubert from the G Major Mass with the Chamber Orchestra. The topic of his graduation thesis was The study of Buryatia composers’ choral work. After successfully passing exams at the Moscow Conservatory in 2019, Maidar Dambaev returned to his homeland in Ulan-Ude and became a teacher of conducting choirs and the choirmaster of the mixed choir at the Tchaikovsky College of Arts.
Adrian Emans (Germany)
Adrian Emans
Adrian Emans obtained a master’s degree in music education at the Berlin University of the Arts and in mathematics at the Free University Berlin. He began taking professional roles while studying, including direction of many distinguished youth choirs. From 2011 through 2013, he led the children’s choir for the modern youth opera Ein Märchen vom Fluss, a youth opera that was awarded a prize at the Children’s Choir Olympics. From 2014 to 2015, Adrian Emans worked under the direction of Simon Halsey on the Berlin Philharmonic’s educational project Vokalhelden, and for the following two years Adrian was the assistant director of PlanckTon, the youth choir of the RIAS-Kammerchor. From 2017 to 2019 he was assistant to the Children’s Choir of the Berlin State Opera. In 2013, Adrian Emans founded the Charité Chor Berlin. At the 2016 German Choir Festival and Competition in Stuttgart, he and the choir won the second prize with high honors, and at the 2017 Berlin Choir Meet they were awarded a commendation with honors. At the competition of the 35th International Choral Festival of Preveza the choir was awarded with a golden and a silver diploma. In 2016, Adrian Emans founded the Neuer Kammerchor Berlin, made up of students from the Berlin University of the Arts. They found international success by winning second prize at the competition Praga Cantat, where Adrian was additionally awarded the special jury prize for outstanding conducting. In 2018, the choir was also awarded with a silver diploma in the Champions Competition at the international competition World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa. In 2019, Adrian Emans founded the Neuer Männerchor Berlin, a men’s choir made up of music students and semi-professional singers. Adrian Emans has taken master classes from Frieder Bernius, Simon Halsey, Stefan Parkman, Michael Gläser, Nicolas Fink and Frank Markowitsch.
SzuYun Swing Hsieh (Taiwan)
SzuYun Swing Hsieh
Borned in ChangHua, Taiwan, SzuYun Swing Hsieh is the Associate-Conductor of Taipei Philharmonic Foundation, and the music director of the Rejuvenis Group, the conductor of Taipei Women’s Singing Society and Taipei Philharmonic Civic Choral. Ms. Hsieh has conducted Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir in concert tours in Taiwan, China, Italy, Vatican, Austria, Russia and Hungary. In 2019, CD album of Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir won the Golden Melody Awards Best Vocal Group conducted by SzuYun Hsieh. In 2018, Ms. Hsieh won the Second Prize in 2nd Boris Tevlin Competition of Choral Conductors (the First Prize has not been awarded). At the same year, she got full scholarship to attend the orchestra conducting masterclass in Dohnányi Academy, Hungary, and conducted Budafoki Dohnányi Orchestra. She was also the Chorus Master in NSO’s opera production of Beethoven’s Fidelio, Puccini’s Il Trittico and Berstein’s Candide, NTSO’s production of Mahler’s Symphony No.2, and Taipei Philharmonic Foundation’s production of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Ms. Hsieh attended Maestro Gábor Hollerung’s conducting master class of Taipei International Choral Festival. She also attended conducting master class instructed by Maestro ShaoChia Lü, the Music Director of Taiwan Philharmonic. Ms. Hsieh holds a B.A. degree, majoring in voice, from Taipei National University of Art, studying under Dr. YiLin Hsu, and received a master’s degree in conducting from Taipei National University of Art, studying under professor SongRen Hsu.
Yeonju Jessica Lee (South Korea)
Yeonju Jessica Lee
Known for her outstanding musical talent and excellent auditory sense, Yeonju Jessica Lee has swiftly emerged as one of the rising conductors in the new generation of globe-trotting musicians. From 2016 to 2019, Yeonju Jessica Lee assisted the concert choir and ensemble choir at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover (HMTMH). Yeonju also has conducted multiple projects like Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, Handel Messiah, Mozart Requiem, and Clude Vivier Immortalite, Francis Poulenc Figure Humaine. For the last few years, she worked with some opera productions, La Traviata, Handel Semele (Cond. Howard Arman), and Hindemith Hin und Zurück, Ernst Toch Egon und Emilie is her opera debut production. As a South Korea born, Yeonju Jessica Lee holds the Masters in Music (M.Mus) conducting with Prof Frank Löhr, and minor in piano, voice, cembalo at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover, Germany and Bachelor in Music (B. Mus) for conducting and minor in voice at Korea National University of Arts with Prof. Martin Behrmann and Hongsoo Kim. Yeonju Jessica Lee outstandingly did an internship at Ahrensburg Chamber Orchestra, State Opera House in Hannover, Bergedorf Chamber Choir. Besides, she led numerous concerts with university choirs and ensembles with passion. In summer 2019 she took part in a masterclass in Richard Wagner Festival Bayreuth with Maestro Christian Thielemann.
Daniel Newman-Lessler (United State of America)
Daniel Newman-Lessler
Daniel Newman-Lessler is a conductor, pianist, and composer. As a conductor, Daniel serves as music director of Music Academy of the West’s Sing! program, and conductor for Kadima Conservatory’s Senior Philharmonic. He was chorus master for Santa Barbara Symphony, interim director of choral activities at University of California Santa Barbara, regular guest conductor of Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, and conductor for Rubicon Theatre’s production of West Side Story. Daniel held assistant conducting positions with Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale, Diamond Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Cal State Channel Islands University Choir. Daniel studied under Gerard Schwarz at Eastern Music Festival as a Conducting Scholar and conducted premiers of works by microtonalist composers at Untwelve Summer Festival. As a pianist, Daniel teaches at Pepperdine University and has won concerto competitions sponsored by Southwestern Youth Music Festival, Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC), and Thousand Oaks Philharmonic. He is a founding member of the Singer Chamber Players and has performed as a panelist for MTAC. As a singer, Daniel has performed with Andrea Bocelli, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, and David Foster at Nokia Theatre, Capitol Records, and Paramount Pictures. He serves as the High Holiday Cantor at Temple Ner Ami. Daniel’s compositions have been performed by USC Thornton University Chorus, UCSB Chamber Choir, Torrance Civic Chorale, Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale, Temple Ner Ami Choir, and Untwelve Players. Upcoming premiers include pieces for Eckerd Concert Choir and microtonal guitarist, Elynor Freyss. Daniel’s research on Dave Brubeck’s Gates of Justice received grant funding from University of the Pacific, and he serves as a lecturer for Cal State University Channel Island’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Daniel graduated cum laude from University of Southern California with an M.M. in Sacred Music and B.M. in Piano Performance.
Matthias Rajczyk (Germany)
Matthias Rajczyk
Matthias Rajczyk (born in 1987 in Poland) studied music education and theology and then switched to conducting studies with Prof. Georg Grün (choral conducting) and Prof. Toshiyuki Kamioka (orchestral conducting) at the University of Music Saar, which he completed with a Master of Music degree in 2017. He deepened his education in master classes with Helmut Rilling, Morten Schuldt-Jensen, Frieder Bernius, Stan Engelbretson, Simon Halsey, Volker Hempfling and others. Matthias Rajczyk has been working successfully as a choir conductor in Germany and Luxembourg for many years. His ensembles currently include the chamber choir ENCORE, which he founded, the award-winning Ensemble 85 and the Saarknappenchor. Since 2019 he has been the musical director of the Ensemble Vocal du Luxembourg, founded by Prof. Pierre Cao. Concerts and guest conducting have taken him to Latvia, the Czech Republic, France, Luxembourg and South Africa. Regular radio, TV and CD recordings, such as the CD of the Saarknappenchor produced by Saarländischer Rundfunk in 2018, and invitations to festivals, such as the opening concert of the Silver Bells Festival in Latvia, round off his artistic activities. Profound vocal training and singing experience is the general basis and success factor of his approach to choral work. In addition to his artistic activities, he works as a teacher and coach, among others for the choir conductor training of the Saarland Choir Association, the Summer Academy Blieskastel and the Saarland Orchestra Days. In 2019 he was appointed director of choral activities at the Northern Music Conservatory in Luxembourg. Matthias Rajczyk received a scholarship from the Deutscher Musikrat for his artistic work at the German Choir Competition 2018 in Freiburg and won the conductor’s prize at the 2nd International Limburg Men’s Choir Competition 2019.
Adam Sedlický (Slovak Republic)
Adam Sedlický
Adam Sedlický (1991) belongs to the youngest generation of Slovak conductors. In 2014 he started working with the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in Ostrava (CZ), where whilst still a student was engaged to conduct operetta/musical ensemble (season 2015/16). In 2017 he was engaged to conduct opera ensemble at the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in Ostrava (CZ). Since 2015 he has been the chief conductor of the Žilina State Conservatory Students Orchestra. Adam Sedlický has conducted the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic Košice, Slovak Sinfonietta, Moravian Philharmonic Olomouc, South Czech Philharmonic, Orchestra of Moravian theatre Olomouc, Cardiff Sinfonietta, Beethoven Academy Orchestra, Athens Philharmonic Orchestra and amongst others. In this season 2019/20 he will debut with Brno Philharmonic and Bohuslava Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2015 he has been the conductor of the Academic Choir of the Technical University of Ostrava, which belongs to one of the highest-level chambers singing choirs in the Czech Republic. With this choir he has won numerous awards: 1st place – ABB (Academic Banská Bystrica – Slovakia) 2015, 1st place – Vilnius (Lithuania) 2015, absolute winner – Jihlava (Czech Republic) 2016, absolute winner ABB 2017, 3rd. place and special prize for conductor – Varna (Bulgaria) 2017, Grand Prix (absolute winner) and special prize for conductor – Voce Magna Žilina (Slovakia) 2018, 2nd place in category folksong – Spittal an der Drau (Austria) 2019. He is a winner of Choirmaster – junior prize in the Czech Republic in 2018. In this season 2019/20 he will cooperate as a choirmaster with Slovak Philharmonic Choir. Adam Sedlický studied piano and conducting at the Conservatory in Žilina (SK) and in 2016 graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (SK). He took part in semester studies at the Academy of Music in Krakow (PL). Recently he successfully attended conducting masterclasses with Gabriel Chmura, Colin Metters and Michalis Economoum.
Neringa Sidaugaitė (Lithuania)
Neringa Sidaugaitė
The active musical career of Neringa Sidaugaitė began in 2010 when she started studying in National M.K Ciurlionis Art School and graduated in 2016. Completed choir conducting in the class of Jurijus Kalcis and symphonic conducting in the class of Martynas Staskus. Currently studying in Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy (LMTA) and undertaking choir conducting course taught by Vytautas Miskinis. Since 2016, joined the chamber choir Aidija (managed by R. Grazinis). Between 2018-2019 was a manager and conductor of Lithuanian Police Department Women Assembly. Since 2019 artistic director and conductor of Vilnius Jesuit Gymnasium choir – Krantas. Biggest achievements: in 2016, conductor and art manager of rock opera Peer Gynt (created by A. Navakas and K. Antanelis). In 2016, concert with St Kristofer Orchestra. In 2017, conducting masterclass in Germany, taught by Georg Grun; 1st place in young conductor competition of Gediminas Purlys. In 2018, Choir conducting masterclasses and seminars Europa Cantat, 2018. In 2019, masterclasses taught by professor Maris Sirmais and award from LMTA – Alumni Association Scholarship.
Karolina Silkina (Belarus/Poland)
Karolina Silkina
Karolina Silkina was born in Grodno, Belarus. There she has started her musical education at the piano class. From the very beginning of her musical education Karolina started singing in the choir, taking part in numerous concerts and winning competitions (New Names, Young Pianists piano competitions, the latest in 2017 – Polish Piano Competition in Kraków– 1st prize). Karolina have finished her bachelor’s degree at Choral and Music Ensembles Conducting at the F. Chopin University of Music under the guidance of prof. Bogdan Gola (2019, diploma with distinction). At the 2019/2020 academic year she starts her master’s Choral Conducting studies at Alma Mater. Karolina Silkina is the founder and the conductor of the Journalism Department choir at the University of Warsaw. In addition, Karolina completed her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Media Marketing at the University of Warsaw. Currently continues her master’s studies there. Conducting and vocal workshop Karolina develops by participating in different conferences (International Conferences for Choral Conductors) and music projects. She is a soprano at the F. Chopin Chamber Choir and the choral singer and vocal instructor at University of Warsaw Choir, at The Center of Thought of John Paul II Choir, at the church choir. Like a choral singer, Karolina also cooperate with the Warsaw Great Theatre – National Opera, Warsaw Chamber Opera, National Philharmonic, University of Katowice Choir. She cooperated with the National Music Forum in Wrocław performing the Elijah oratory and with the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra performing Stabat Mater by K. Szymanowski. As a journalist, Karolina is a member of International Choral Bulletin team and ORFEO – Bogusław Kaczyński Foundation. Karolina Silkina was one of the members of the jury at the Queen of the Adriatic Sea Choral Festival and Competition (2019). In addition, Karolina likes to compose music and play the violin.
Martynas Stakionis (Lithuania)
Martynas Stakionis
Since Martynas Stakionis debut with the Kaunas State Philharmonic in April of 2014, he has appeared with the Mozarteum Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony, Baltic Sea Philharmonic, Lithuanian National Symphony, Kintai Music Festival International Orchestra, Latvian Academy of Music Symphony, and Hamburg School of Music and Theater Symphony. At the end of the 2017-18 season, Stakionis received the Norwegian Critics Association award for Best Music Performance of the Season in collaboration with Kremerata Baltica for their May 2018 Bergen Festival performance of Sofia Gubaidulina’s Fachwerk. His relationship with the ensemble and mentor Gidon Kremer has been cultivated through performances at the Kronberg Academy Festival, Klavier-Festival Ruhr (Robert Schumann Concert Hall) Dvorakova Praha (Prag Rodolfinum) and the Parisian Auditorium de la Fondation Louis Vuitton. Recent operatic projects include conducting Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte in a collaboration between the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra and Hamburg School of Music and Theatre. Stakionis holds the title of assistant conductor at the Hamburg Chamber Opera Theater and has assisted Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla for the Salzburg State Theatre’s productions of Haydn’s Il mondo della luna and Max Brand’s Stormy Interlude. Stemming from a rich choral background, he has worked with Latvian and Lithuanian State Choirs, Paris National Opera‘s Children’s Choir, Regional Choir Vittoria d’Île-de- France, Latvian Radio Choir, and served as Chorus Master for John Eaton‘s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the National M.K.Ciurlionis School of Arts. Stakionis has won several choral competitions throughout the Baltic States since 2010. Most notably, he placed first in the Jazeps Vitols 5th International Choral Conductors Competition (Riga, 2014) and was awarded for the best interpretation of an opera scene in Republican Jonas Aleksa Young Choir Conductors Competition (Vilnius, 2014).
Xuxiang Zou (People’s Republic of China)
Xuxiang Zou
Xuxiang Zou is originally from Zhejiang, China. She studied choral conducting with professor Yan Wang and achieved the bachelor of chorus conducting and master of choral conducting degrees at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music along with the diploma of collaborative piano. Now she is studying choral conducting in Missouri State University in United States, where she studies with Dr. Cameron F. LaBarr. Recently, she guest conducted the Missouri State University Chorale in concert as a featured ensemble in the China International Chorus Festival. Xuxiang led the Wenzhou Female Choir in the 9th World Choir Games in the championship competition. At the World Choir Games, the choir gained the championship prize in Folklore a cappella and the Gold Medal in Female Choirs. Recently, she received third Prize of 3rd National Choral Conducting Competition in China. She was awarded the title of Excellent Conductor in the 4th The Heart of Chorus Shanghai International Choral Festival & Competition. Additionally, Xuxiang has participated in many operas as an assistant conductor and music director.
Amy Ryan (Ireland)
Amy Ryan
Amy Ryan is a professional conductor, performer and educator based in Dublin, Ireland. She has directed a wide range of professional and amateur ensembles including chamber, cathedral and university choirs, choral societies, early music ensembles, opera choruses, and orchestras. She has sung with professional cathedral choirs and internationally competitive amateur choirs, and has performed throughout Europe and the USA as a cellist and flautist. She founded Cuore Chamber Choir in 2014 and led them to first prizes at all the major choral competitions in Ireland. Cuore’s recent repertoire includes Tallis’ and Ginastera’s ‘Lamentations of Jeremiah’ and Tallis’ ‘Spem in Alium’. With Jubilate Choir her recent performances include the Requiems of Mozart, Fauré and Duruflé and the Irish premiere of Graun’s ‘Der Tod Jesu’. From 2015-2018, she directed St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Girls’ Choir at Sunday liturgies, including on national television, and was invited to conduct at the Papal Mass in Ireland last year. Amy also directs the University College Dublin Philharmonic Choir, and has worked as a guest conductor with the UCD Symphony Orchestra. Amy regularly works with professional soloists and instrumentalists, and she has also conducted Ireland’s National Symphony Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Amy has participated in masterclasses in Ireland and abroad including with Robert Houlihan, Volker Hempfling, David Lawrence, Simon Carrington and Rodolfo Saglimbeni. In 2017 she served as a Conducting Fellow at the Yale School of Music Norfolk Chamber Music Festival with the support of the Arts Council of Ireland. Amy completed her studies at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy of Music, Hungary, earning a Master’s degree and Advanced Diploma (distinction) studying Choral Conducting under Peter Erdei and László Nemes. During her studies in Hungary, she was awarded the red diploma for academic excellence. She completed her BMus degree at the CIT Cork School of Music with first class honours, studying Conducting under Alan Cutts. In addition, Amy is Chairperson of the Kodály Society of Ireland and lectures in Music at Ireland’s oldest university, Trinity College Dublin and Ireland’s oldest conservatory, the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
