Meet Our Teachers

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Meet Our Teachers2023-12-01T11:52:26+00:00

Eamon Cahill

Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Director of Senior and Junior Jazz Bands

Eamon graduated from The Royal Irish Academy of Music in 1998 with a Batchelors Degree in Music Education. There he also studied Clarinet with John Finucane, principal clarinettist with The National Symphony Orchestra and Piano with Gillian Smith, and received his teaching Diplomas in both instruments. It was also there that he met founder of The St Canices Music Programme, Regina O Leary. She asked him would he be interested in doing a few hours teaching at the school and the rest as they say is history. Eamon now teaches Saxophone, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone,Piano, Guitar, Bass guitar, drums and music theory in St Canices Primary, Cbs Secondary, Loreto Secondary, St Kierans Secondary, Kilkenny College and The Model School Primary in Kilkenny. Each of these schools now boasts a thriving instrumental program and Jazzband. Eamon also founded and directs The Kilkenny Wind Ensemble who are past Winners of the Wesley Music Festival, Dublin. Recently Eamon And Some of His students were invited to perform with The Garda Band at Garda HQ in The Phoenix Park Dublin, which resulted in a Gala Concert with the Garda Band at St Canices Cathedral over the St. Patrick’s Weekend. This year marks Eamons 20th year teaching in Kilkenny and he would like to thank all the Principals and teaching staff at all the schools where he teaches, as well as all the parents and students who have supported him over the last 2 decades. In particular, Eamon would like to pay tribute his colleague and close friend Regina O’Leary for all her friendship, support and inspiration over the years.

Mark Fitzgerald

Trombone, Trumpet, Pocket Trumpet, Theory, Percussion

Mark Fitzgerald is a conductor, freelance trumpet player and music educator specialising in brass teaching and hails from Waterford City. He began his musical career while at Primary School when he joined the Mount Sion CBS Silver Band under the direction of Fintan O’Carroll. His progression was rapid, culminating in his appointment as Principal Solo Cornet, a position he held until leaving school in 1987. Mark has also been a member of the National Youth Orchestra, the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble and The National Broadcasting Band of Ireland.

He furthered his musical education by studying at Waterford Institute of Technology and more recently with Dr. Eibhlis Farrell at Dundalk I.T. Mark has also had the pleasure of working with some of Ireland’s and the UK’s leading brass musicians such as Jim Shepherd and Mark Wilkinson, and has been a guest conductor with the world famous Foden’s Brass Band.

Mark is currently the principle conductor of the Barrack Street Concert Band, Waterford and is heavily involved in their youth development programme. He joined the music staff of St. Canice’s Instrumental Music Programme in September 2011 where he teaches brass and theory. Mark also teaches music and brass at Scoil Mhuire National School Wexford. He is a brass tutor with the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble and is a playing member of the Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra and the newly formed Irish Invitational Brass Band.

Aisling O’Connor

Violin

Kilkenny based Aisling joined the teaching staff of St. Canice’s National School in 2007 where she currently teaches Senior Infants. Aisling is a keen violinist and first started playing the violin in St. John’s Girls Primary School in Michael Street.  She is a former member of the Loreto Girls Secondary School Orchestra and the Kilkenny Gateway Orchestra.  Aisling is currently a member of The Kilkenny Community Orchestra.

Jeremy Hickey

Percussion

Jeremy Hickey is a multiinstrumentalist hailing from Kilkenny City who has gained the reputation as one of Europe’s leading drummers and percussionists .

Jeremy commenced training under the tuition of Dan Breen at The Royal Irish Academy Of Music , Dublin in 1999 and for the last 15 years has been working as both a tutor and a session musician. During this time, he has curated private lessons and thought in various primary schools around the country including, St. Corban’s CBS, Naas , Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Stoneyford , Co. Kilkenny and St. Canices, Kilkenny.

Hickey is a tutor with The Irish Drum Academy in Dublin , a certified Samba Drums instructor with The Kilkenny Education Centre and has recently completed a successful summer course in The Ossory Youth Centre combining music production and performance.

When Jeremy is not in the classroom, he is performing onstage at home or abroad or in the studio under the guise R.S.A.G. aka Rarely Seen Above Ground. He has two critically acclaimed albums under his belt and a Choice Music Award nomination . He has also received the highest of accolades from the likes of RTE, The Irish Times and Hot Press Magazine . Jeremy has toured Ireland, UK, Europe and North & South America. As a session musician he has worked with local and world renowned artists and producers including Jerry Fish, Cathy Davey, Neil Hannon, Conor O’Brien (Villagers), Cat Dowling , Grammy Award winners Justice , and French outfit Bot’Ox .

Charity work over the years includes projects with Headstrong mental health and Dogs in Distress.

Ruth Morrissey

Cello, Director of Senior Orchestra

Ruth Morrissey is a past pupil of St. Canice’s National School, where she began her musical training and later attending Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny. She began attending the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, for cello lessons at the age of 9, studying with Olwen Lewis and Gerda Marwood, in WIT. In 2003, Ruth moved to Holland, where she studied cello performance for 2 years in the Koninklijke Conservatorium, Den Haag. On returning to Ireland, she completed a Bachelor of Education Degree in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, whilst continuing her musical studies in the Royal Irish Academy of Music, with William Butt, completing an Associate Diploma in Cello Teaching. During her time in St. Patrick’s College, Ruth developed an interest in conducting and conducted the St. Patrick’s College Choir in the Cork International Choral Festival with great success in May 2008. This led her to return to St. Patrick’s College to participate in a Postgraduate Diploma in Choral Conducting in Schools and the Community. She has now returned to Kilkenny and is member of the staff of St. Canice’s National School and the staff of St. Canice’s Instrumental Music Programme.She teaches cello to children from  Senior Infant to 6th class level in the school, as well as chamber music and directing the school orchestra at present. She has recently started adult cello classes in the school for any parents who wish to join their children in their musical study. This has been set up with a view to providing cellists for the establishment of Kilkenny Gateway Orchestra.

Lisa Hennessy

Guitar

Lisa has taught on the instrumental music programme for over twenty years. She began her musical journey at a young age learning various instruments until she focused on guitar. She teaches a variety of styles from classical to rock. She applies a child centered approach in her teaching and encourages each child to discover their own musical capabilities.

Lisa is a strong believer in continuous professional development. She was awarded a taught master’s scholarship for academic excellence in 2021 by Maynooth University and completed a M.Ed. in 2022

Lisa currently holds the position of Music Department Coordinator at Kilkenny College alongside teaching guitar on their instrumental music programme.

Ann Marie Kenny

Junior Orchestra, Violin, PreTwinkle
Ann Marie Kenny is a B.Mus graduate from Trinity College Dublin and also holds teaching diplomas from Trinity College London. She studied a wide variety of instruments at college, including piano, violin and singing. Over the years, she has successfully competed at Cork Choral Festival, New Ross A.I.M.S Festival and Sligo Choral Festival.
Ann Marie has a passion for teaching, and teaches individuals and groups at various schools, teaching instruments and taking choirs. She has been teaching for almost 30 years and prepares students for RIAM and ABRSM exams as well as local and national competitions. She is delighted to be back teaching at St Canice’s school music programme and teaches violin, viola and pre-twinkle classes as well as taking junior orchestra.

Orla Hanrick

PreTwinkle

Orla Hanrick is a past pupil of St. Canice’s National School where she first enjoyed playing the violin, clarinet and piano. She later attended Loreto Secondary School where she was a member of the school orchestra, jazz band and choir. Orla then completed a Bachelor of Education in Mary Immaculate College where she developed an interest for the guitar,  before returning as a staff member to St. Canice’s in 2017. She is currently teaching Junior Infants and often enjoys bringing her classroom to life through music. She teaches pre-twinkle lessons to Senior Infants and beginner guitar lessons.

Brianna Campbell

Cello
Brianna Campbell began her journey in music at a young age in St. John of God Primary School, Kilkenny, where she took piano lessons. While continuing to play the piano, Brianna began Double Bass lessons under the direction of Philip Edmondson in the Kilkenny School of Music. She was also a member of the Kilkenny School of Music Orchestra. Brianna continued to study Double Bass in the Royal Academy of Music, Dublin, with Dominic Dudley, Principal Double Bassist with the National Symphony Orchestra. She was also a member of the National Youth Orchestra in 1997 and 1998 during which the Orchestra toured Denmark.

Brianna undertook voice training with Imelda Drumm while attending St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, where she completed her Bachelor of Education Degree. She performed as part of St. Patrick’s College Choir in the Cork International Choral Festival.

She was also a member of the Music Educators Orchestra, playing Double Bass with a group of teachers in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. The group worked closely with the Irish Composers Collective and performed as part of the Love Life Music Festival in Dublin.

Brianna always had a keen interest in stringed instruments and currently teaches cello to children from 1st to 5th Class as part of the St. Canice’s School Music programme.

Laura Power

Singing

Laura is a teacher in St Canice’s Co-Ed since 2013. She qualified with a Bachelor of Education from St Patrick’s College DCU. Laura has a long history of performing arts, participating in choirs and Jesters Stage Academy as a child.
Laura began her vocal training under the direction of Veronica McCarron in 2002.
She attained bronze, silver and gold medals in the Royal Irish Academy of Music singing examinations.
Laura was a member of both the Presentation Junior Choir and Senior Choir. She was part of the Senior Choir in 2007 who won the Cork International Music Festival, Feis Ceol, and named top choir in Ireland based on the RIAM examination results.

Laura was part of Veronica McCarron’s wedding ensemble from 2007-2011 as a soprano and was lucky enough to perform at numerous weddings all around Ireland.

Laura was a member of Aris Choir featuring past members of the Presentation choir who released an album, music video, collaborated with “The Kilkenny’s” and performed with Daniel O ‘ Donnell on the Late Late Show and in the Convention Centre at his Christmas Concerts.
Laura is very passionate about singing and loves brining the joy of singing into her classroom everyday.
She is currently involved with the choir in St Canices along with Ms Flynn and Ms Morrissey.

Rachel Morrissey

Violin

Rachel went to school in St. Canice’s too where she learned how to play the violin and the flute. Rachel teaches violin to Junior Infants and Senior Infants.

Sinead Flynn

Sinéad Flynn is a past pupil of St.Canice’s National School where she began her musical journey. She started playing the flute and played in the orchestra. She later attended Loreto Secondary school where she continued to play in the orchestra and was a member of the school choir and completed the ABRSM flute grade exams. She then decided to study Irish and music in Maynooth University. This gave her the opportunity to play the flute as part of her music degree and specialize in performance. Sinéad is currently completing the PME in primary teaching in Mary Immaculate College. She is delighted to be back in St Canice’s teaching the flute.

Sheena Flynn

Sheena is a past pupil and current teacher of 5th class in St Canice’s Primary school. Sheena has always loved singing from an early age. She was inspired by her teacher Regina O’Leary. She was involved in choirs and orchestras in Primary and Secondary school.

Sheena has a great interest in Liturgical music and she has been involved in church choirs from an early age.

She has been involved in teaching and preparing children for the National Children’s choir. Sheena directs the 5th class School choir and they have sung at various concerts and school events. Sheena believes the benefits of choral singing are immense and can really improve the confidence and wellbeing of children and adults alike.

Adam Nolan

Saxophone

Performer/Teacher/Composer/Producer BA Honours Music Major in 1/1 in Jazz Saxophone performance Minor in Composition W.I.T. Has released 17 albums.

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