CBOI CONDUCTOR – INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED CONDUCTOR GREG BEARDSELL
Greg Beardsell was appointed conductor of the CBOI commencing in August 2015. Greg is one of the most outstanding conductors of his generation, and is considered a leading light in music education and performance, rightly winning plaudits for the outstanding performances of orchestras and chorus under his leadership.
“He was absolutely extraordinary in the results he achieved and the rapport he had with the group, not just in the technical discipline and colour he brought to the singing but also in the electrifying way he engaged the young singers, inspiring them to enjoy intensive work and to relish the process of really perfecting what they were doing” Howard Shelley, Pianist and Conductor
Dan Bodwell
Tutoring: Double Bass
Daniel Bodwell studied classical double bass at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and jazz double bass at the Hochschule für Künste, Bremen. He is a founder member of the New York based Micah Gaugh Trio with Kevin Shea. He currently performs with Mary Coughlan, the Nigel Mooney Quartet, the Francesco Turrisi Trio, Julie Feeney, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, the Quiet Music Ensemble and the Crash Ensemble.
Mary Barnecutt
Tutoring: Cello
Mary Barnecutt is originally from Belfast and works as a cellist and music teacher primarily in Dublin. As a cellist she plays with many professional orchestras, is principal cello with the Dublin City Chamber Orchestra, a founder member of the Alpha String Quartet and has worked with many artists such as Aslan, Westlife, Adrian Crowley, Julie Feeney, Seti the 1st and Vyvienne Long. She also enjoys helping other musicians put on their performances and works for the Hugh Lane Gallery in their ‘Sundays at Noon’ Concert Series as a concert coordinator. She recently wrote, produced and recorded her own music in an album entitled Into Air under the name ‘Mary and the Pigeons’. www.marypigeons.com
Ursula Perez Ruiz
Tutoring Viola & Violin 3
Liam Monagher from Dundalk, Co Louth, began playing the violin at the age of six. He has studied with the renowned violinist Ms. Patricia Treacy and also with Mr. Michael d’ Arcy at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. As an orchestral musician, he has performed with numerous orchestra’s including the Orchestral Musicians of Northern Ireland, the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland (NYOI), the NYOI Camerata and the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland (CBOI). Throughout the years, he has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious music venue’s including Boston Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York and Chicago Symphony Hall.
Most notably, he was leader of the CBOI in performances at the World Expo Shanghai,
China, the Lincoln Centre, New York and the Royal Albert Hall, London. In recent times, Liam’s musical career has taken a diverse twist, seeing him record and perform with some of Ireland’s most outstanding musicians including Lisa Hannigan, Jim Corr, Miss Paula Flynn and Liam Reilly of Bagatelle.
Patricia Treacy
Tutoring: Violin 1 & 2
Patricia studied with outstanding distinction at the London Guild Hall School of Music and Drama, and travelled widely to continue her studies in Israel, Canada, Russia and Italy. The winner of many prestigious national music awards, Patricia went on to perform a wide repertoire at premier venues both nationally and internationally. Patricia’s reputation as a top concert violinist, recitalist and chamber musician precedes her.
Aine Balfe
Tutoring: Flute & Oboe
Áine Balfe holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Trinity College Dublin and DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and also has an LTCL diploma in flute performance with distinction. In 2013 she completed a Masters in Music Performance at the DIT where she studied under Ciarán O’ Connell. During this time, she won the DIT Briscoe Cup, the Orchestral Excerpts Prize and performed Mozart’s Flute and Harp concerto with the TCD Orchestra. Áine has an avid interest in both performing and teaching music. In 2014 Áine was appointed to the position of Head of Music at the St. Patricks Cathedral Grammar School, Dublin 8 having previously taught at Wesley College since 2009.
Bernie Balfe
Tutoring: Clarinet
Bernie Balfe is a clarinetist, saxophonist and vocalist with an eclectic musical experience ranging from Classical and Choral, to Jazz and Rock. As an educator with Music Generation Louth she works as an instrumental and musicianship instructor. Bernie holds a BMus Perf Hons degree from DIT and an MA in Music from DkIT.
Philip Fergusson
Tutoring: Trumpet
Philip is currently a ‘district coordinator’ with the SELB. Philip is an exceptional music educator and teaches all Brass instruments preparing students for ‘Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music’ examinations, ‘GSCE’ and ‘A-level’ practical examinations. Philip has conducted many ensembles and orchestras including the highly respected Belfast Brass. Philip is an outstanding solo and ensemble performer and has worked with most of the big Operatic Societies in Northern Ireland as well as the Ulster Orchestra.
Barry McBrien
Tutoring: Trombone, Tuba, Horn & Saxophone
Barry McBrien is an accomplished trombonist based in Dublin having played professionally for over twenty-five years. He works regularly with the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra and The Hot House Big Band. On the classical front he has worked with The RTE Concert Orchestra and The National Symphony Orchestra. He has preformed and/or recorded with Oasis, Van Morrison, Gene Pitney, Sinéad O’Connor, The Corrs, Jack L, Englebert Humperdinck, The Lighthouse Family, Mary Black and Slide Hampton.
He was also a member of The Late Late Show house band for two years.
Danny Roe
Tutoring: Percussion
Danny Roe is a highly accomplished and award winning percussionist.
Qualifications and awards include:
- Royal Irish Academy of Music Level (RIAM) – Level 8 Distinction with Scholarship
- RIAM – Level 10 Distinction with Scholarship
- UCD Entrance Scholar
- UCD Orchestral Scholar
- UCD Ad Astra Scholar (2 years)
- RIAM Senior Percussion Recital Competition – 1st
- RIAM Wind/Brass/Percussion Duets/Trios/Quartets – 1st
- Ard Scoil Ris Cadenza Competition – Senior winner
- Feis Ceol Composition Competition, Three Pieces for Children – 1st
Performance Highlights include:
- Solo performance for President Mary MacAleese at Aras an Uachtaran 2007
- Performance with ‘Drum and Drummer’ Percussion Duo for President Mary MacAleese at Aras an Uachtaran 2008
- Sarabande Project Musicians of the Future, National Concert Hall 2010
- Ad Astra Performance Scholars Recital, National Concert Hall 2012
- Solo Recitals National Concert Hall 2011 and 2012
Danny is a very experienced percussion teacher. Along with teaching individually, he teachers at Knocklyon School of Music, St. Ultans School, Cherry Orchard, and is a visiting tutor with St. Agnes Community Music Project in Crumlin.
