MINI MUSIC ACADEMY - Key Persons
Anna Lewkowska graduated from the Khabarovsk National Institute of Arts and Culture in Russia ( Degree in Music Performance and Pedagogy). She has worked in various Schools of Music as a piano and theory teacher. Anna frequently accompanies at RIAM exams . She also works as an accompanist for choirs & vocal and instrumental ensembles. She has taught music in primary schools from junior infants to sixth class. Anna enjoys teaching beginners, young children and advanced grades.
Anna Melescik was born in Smorgon, Belarus. She learned piano and theory from 7 years of age. She graduated with an honours degree in music from the university in Belarus in 2015. She completed her second degree at the Belarusian State University studying Curture and Arts in 2021. She has lived in Dublin since 2017 and has been teaching mini music, piano and theory at CSM since her arrival. Anna is extremely passionate about music.
Antoinette holds a Certificate from the Leinster School of Music & Drama in teaching proficiency (piano). Antoinette's professional career, which spans over 20 years, combines teaching music and caring for children with intellectual disability.
Antoinette specializes in Early Music Education and is a highly skilled teacher of our Mini Music Academy curriculum, Pathway to Piano and musicianship theory teacher.
Antonello studied classical saxophone at the Conservatory of Music in Italy. Antonello is a multiple instrumental player specializing in saxophone, but he is also a qualified to teach flute and clarinet.
His career as a performer includes a long lasting collaborations with the "Universe Orchestra" and the "RAI (Radio and Television Italian Network) Jazz Orchestra".
Antonello moved to Dublin since 2008. He is a regular woodwind performer on the Dublin music scene and currently performs in the groups of several Irish musicians in jazz clubs & hotels around Dublin. He is also a regular performer at all the major festivals including Electric Picnic, Oxygen and the Cork Jazz Festival. Internationally he has performed in the UK ,Germany and of course Italy and more recently has performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra.
Antonello is a senior music teacher at CSM since 2009 teaching flute, clarinet, saxophone, musicianship theory and his course include individual and group classes.
Brendan has been teaching at CSM since 2007. A Sligo native, he studied piano with Marta Erdei, and achieved a BA (Mus.) from Maynooth University in a combined composition and performance stream, in 2004. Later, in 2008, he received a Masters in composition, which he completed at the same university under Dr Martin O'Leary.
Brendan maintains an active career as a teacher, composer, and writer, and has published academic articles written for numerous publications including the classical music magazine ‘VAN', the website of the ‘Glenn Gould Foundation', and the film website ‘Hope Lies at 24 Frames Per Second'. He has also recently presented a guest talk on RTÉ Lyric FM.
Brendan is a senior teacher at Castleknock School of Music since 2007 teaching piano, musicianship theory, composition, Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate academic music.
Cathair is originally from Derry and moved to Dublin when he was 18 to complete his degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance at DCU, in which he received a First Class Honours Degree. He has grown up surrounded by music as his father is a respected drummer in Derry. Therefore from infancy, he has been around talented musicians. He has played guitar in bands all over Ireland, in settings such as weddings, festivals and shows, was 1st trombone in the WELB youth orchestra and has played drums alongside artists such as Neil Cowley.
Cathair is an approachable yet passionate guitar teacher whose main goal is to inspire the younger generation to understand but most importantly fall in love with music, just as he has.
David, is a graduate of BIMM Dublin graduating in 2015 and a regular on the Irish gigging circuit.
David has recorded and played Lead Guitar in his original ensembles over the years including the band ‘FXY' with two commercial releases as well as currently playing with some of Ireland's newest emerging artists and singers as well as his own thrilling original rock band releasing music to national and international acclaim .
His incredible wealth of performance and experience is shared with students freely and with joy. David has a wonderful way with students of all ages and experience.
Edwina studied acoustic & electric guitar from a young age and was amongst the first year of students to graduate with a Commercial Modern Music Degree from the British and Irish Modern Music Institute Dublin (DIT) She also holds a BA in German and Spanish from NUI Maynooth with a B.A. International in German and Spanish.
She works with various ensembles performing both original material and cover songs. Edwina is a keen performer in the genres of rock, punk, metal, grunge, pop and swing.
Erin O'Connor was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland and her interest in singing was clear from a very young age. Erin is a Commercial Modern Music graduate from The British and Irish Modern Music Institute (TUD).
Focusing on the subject of vocals throughout her studies, Erin has done extensive work in the field of vocal health and technique. Her final year project concentrated on the importance and impact of warm-up routines and application of proper vocal technique.
Gabriel Maggioni is a pianist, orchestrator and engineer. After studying at the Villa Lobos Conservatory, he was accepted at the University of São Paulo, regarded as the best university in South America, to study music. In the following years he started recording and touring with bands through Brazil and was ranked as the second best Brazilian keyboardist by the Roadie Crew Magazine (year 13 - n. 146). Gabriel has worked with several bands as keyboardist/pianist, in the studio and on stage, composer and orchestrator.
As a teacher, he has been working as a piano teacher, online and in person, since 2007. He also teaches harmony, improvisation, synthesizer programming, music arrangement and orchestration.
Gertrude ( Gertie) has been teaching piano for over 30 years. She has a BA(Hons) in music and an MA(Hons) in music in which she achieved First class in both from NUI Maynooth. She holds both Licentiate and Associate diplomas from the London College of Music. She is currently an examiner with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Gertie has previously taught in Castleknock College and Newpark School of Music. She also teaches privately. She has been a member of the Maynooth Choral Society for the past 8 years and is also a member of the Celbridge Concert Orchestra where she plays the oboe.
Gertie is a senior teacher at Castleknock School of Music since 2011 and teaches piano and musicianship theory at the school.
Jonathan studied Philosophy and Psychoanalysis at Trinity College Dublin and thereafter Piano Performance with Professor Anthony Byrne at the Royal Irish academy of music. He then studied with Professor Byrne privately for 2 years with an emphasis on piano pedagogy. Jonathan teaches piano from beginner to diploma level (DipRiam, Teacher's and Performance Diplomas).
His teaching style is personable yet structured and is adaptable to the teaching of all styles of music for the piano. Jonathan favours a broad mix of student ranging from the very young to the mature and whether playing for pleasure or preparing for exams/ concerts.
Jonathan is a senior piano teacher since 2007 at Castleknock School of Music.
Born in Malaysia, after graduated with a bachelor's degree Kah Mun joined the Royal Irish Academy of Music to study on the Master in Music Performance in 2018 and is currently continuing her piano studies with Hugh Tinney after successfully completing the program. Kah Mun has experience in chamber music and her great interest in piano collaboration has led her appears as a regular accompanist in graded examinations, auditions, competitions and concerts for individuals, choir and ballet. Kah Mun is a dedicated teacher, where she prepares students for exam boards as well as finding new ideas and musical inspirations to enhance her pedagogy skills in music education. During her time in Malaysia Kah Mun has also participated as part of chorus member International Choir Festival in Bangkok and Bali, awarded with gold and silver medals in the competitions.
In 2015 she was honoured to perform in the chorale alongside with Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Benjamin Zander. Throughout her studies in RIAM Kah Mun has taken part in various collaborative performances, such as the ChamberFest Dublin, Coffee Concert Series, Platform Concert Series, including a Music and the Collection Series at National Museum of Ireland, and most recently a finalist at the ChamberFest Dublin Prize 2021. Kah Mun was Highly Recommended in the Hamilton Harty Cup in the Feis Ceoil 2022 and represented Malaysia performing in the Dublin Lunar New Year Festival in February 2022
Maurice Czerniak is a Dublin born guitar teacher, songwriter and performer. He started learning guitar at the age of 11and quickly progressed into writing and performing his own material, first in Dublin and then in London. Maurice then studied classical guitar at Newpark and then privately under Marc Collopy. He holds an ATCL diploma (Trinity College London) in classical guitar.
He has taught guitar at Kingston Academy of Music and also private tuition for 10 years, teaching classical, acoustic folk, electric, blues, ukulele and music theory. Maurice also writes and performs with Ria Czerniak and has produced a number of cd's with her.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from Trinity College Dublin and a Higher Diploma in Music Education (Honours) from Griffith College Dublin. Michelle also obtained a Senior Certificate in Piano, Cello and Musicianship from the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She also has an Associate and Licentiate Diploma for Piano from the Central Academy of Music London, and a Licentiate Diploma in Music Education from the Leinster School of Music & Drama.
Michelle has been playing with various orchestras in Dublin for many years. She performs regularly in venues such as the National Concert Hall and Christchurch Cathedral. She is also a cello player with the newly-formed Irish Film & Pops Orchestra. A keen chamber musician, Michelle plays both piano and cello with the Dublin Chamber Music Group, and in July 2016 was a participant in the Austrian Master Class for chamber music in Salzburg. As a teacher, she teaches the cello, violin and piano as well as music theory.
Michelle also plays regularly at weddings and ceremonies in a violin / cello duet. More information is available through her website www.mullinmusic.net.
Mihály was born in 1986 in Budapest (Hungary), and started studying violin at the age of seven. He attended and graduated from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, obtaining an MA degree in Musicology (2011) and majoring in violin in the Teacher's Training Masters Programme (2015).
He moved to Ireland in September 2015 to start teaching music. Currently he teaches violin, viola and music theory in Newpark Music Centre, in Cavan Academy of Music and in Castleknock School of Music. He also has a private teaching
Nicolaus was born in Penang, Malaysia and began his music at the age of 13 studying piano and violin. Nicolaus graduated from University of Malaya in 2004 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music) with a Distinction. He has also successfully obtained his Associate Diploma from Trinity College London in violin and piano performance (Distinction) and a piano performance Licentiate Diploma also from Trinity College London.
He has worked full time as a music teacher since 2004, teaching in various international schools in Malaysia, teaching key stages 1 and 2 music following the British National Syllabus and conducted a string ensemble and choir which performed in many of the school productions and concerts.
Nicolaus has been living in Ireland since 2011. He teaches violin, piano and musicianship theory at Castleknock School of Music. He also is on the accompanists panel for CSM and accompanies regularly at school concerts and examinations.
From Brazil, Pedro Ponciano began playing the guitar in his teens. At age 18, he embarked on 3 years of study at EM & T, a music school directed by Mozart Mello. Pedro gained extensive experience playing in several San Paolo based bands in various genres including samba-rock, groove, funk, baião and samba. In 2010, Pedro studied at the prestigious Sousa Lima Conservatory followed by 2 years at FPA music teaching college. He also studied with expert musician and teacher Luiza O Cavalcanti - recognized by bassist Abraham Laboriel as a true icon of Brazilian music and jazz. Pedro's learning experience with Cavalcanti had a profound influence on him and his love for Brazilian music and jazz. Pedro is a versatile musician who continues to build on his extensive repertoire as a solo performer and improviser. Pedro graduated in 2019 from Dublin City University in 2019 with a BA Honours Art Degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music. Pedro joined the CSM team in 2019.
Ronan Tierney completed an MPhil in Music and Media Technologies from Trinity College Dublin receiving a first class honours for his final dissertation in composition. He also holds a BA in Fine Art from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. He has worked freelance as a resident artist / musician with children from domestic violent backgrounds, children with autism, adults with intellectual disabilities and the elderly. He actively performs in groups songwriting and composing music. He has recorded and produced an album with his group Pirates of the North. Ronan has been teaching at CSM since 2009.
Sara was born in 1993 in Zaragoza (Spain) and started studying piano at the age of four. She graduated from the Conservatory of Aragon achieving both Bachelor in Classical Music Performance (Piano) and Bachelor in Music Education and Pedagogy. She studied Classical Piano with the Escuela Superior Reina Sofía´s professor Miguel Ángel Ortega Chavaldas, and Chamber Music with Dúo del Valle brothers and Cuarteto Quiroga.
Sara has many years of performance experience all over Spain as solo pianist and with her Chamber Music Ensemble. She has been teaching Classical and Modern piano to students of all ages and levels and currently she is teaching Music theory and Early Music Education.
Sean Shannon began to play the piano at eight years old when - after learning to play melodies by ear on a toy piano - his mother bought him his first keyboard. He later received his initial piano lessons from Maeghan Dineen through the Music Generation programme at the Maoin Cheoil an Chláir in his hometown of Ennis. After further studies at the Maoin Cheoil, he continued his studies privately with Tatiana Timofeeva. He is currently undertaking a Bachelor in Music Performance Degree on an entrance scholarship at the Royal Irish Academy of Music as a student of Professor Réamonn Keary. In 2018 he performed for President Michael D. Higgins at the Clarecare charity's 50th-anniversary celebration, and in 2019 he gave his debut solo recital at Glór Arts Centre in Ennis. In 2021 he was appointed inaugural Young Associate Artist at Glór and was featured in an episode of the television programme ‘Nationwide', broadcast on RTÉ One. Sean has also successfully participated in national piano competitions, such as the EPTA Ireland Piano Festival and the Feis Ceoil in Dublin. Sean has previously received a scholarship funded by Maoin Cheoil an Chláir and Limerick School of Music. He also received the Ennis Lions Club Mary Keohane Bursary for several years.
Stevie is a full time musician combining performance with his busy teaching career at Castleknock School of Music. As a guitarist he covers a range of contrasting styles including Classical, Blues and Rock. He plays guitar for two Dublin bands: ‘Overhead the Albatross'
‘The Blue Choir', with whom he has made several studio recordings. He performs regularly throughout Ireland and has performed across Europe and Canada. His compositions are regularly played on several National Television & Radio stations. Having studied with leading Irish Guitarist Alan Grundy at NUI Maynooth and later at The Dublin School of Guitar, Stevie now holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music from NUI Maynooth (B.Mus) as well as an Associate Diploma in Classical Guitar Teaching (AVCM(TD) and a Diploma in Guitar Playing (DipVCM) both from Victoria College of Music.
Tatyana Wearen (Violin) began her studies at Leeson Park School of Music at the age of 6 with Niall O' Brien and finished with Lidia Jewloszewicz Clarke. She has completed her Bachelor of Music degree at The Royal Irish Academy/ Trinity College Dublin, having studied with Mia Cooper for her final year and with Maeve Broderick for the first three years. She has been a member of The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Dublin Youth Orchestra, Trinity Orchestra, Sinfonua and RIAM Philharmonia.
She was the leader of the orchestra in RIAM Opera's production of Henry Purcell's King Arthur in 2022. She was also leader of the second violins in RIAM Philharmonia conducted by Cloe Van Soeterstede. Her project participation ranges from leading in the RIAM Philharmonia to side-by-side projects with the Irish Baroque Orchestra. She has participated in chamber music and solo masterclasses with the Navarra Quartet, Signum Quartet, Elaine Clark, Michael D'arcy and Katherine Hunka.
At the 2022 Chamberfest Dublin, her string quartet performed Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8 and was chosen as one of the winners. She has competed in Feis Ceoil both in the solo and chamber music categories and won first prize at the Newpark Music Festival. At Leeson Park School of Music she won the high achievers cup on three occasions. She performed for the Greek President at Farmleigh House with a chamber ensemble from LPSM.
Tiarnán Shortt is a 22-year-old bass-baritone and pianist from Greystones, County Wicklow. He has completed his Bachelor of Music in the TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music and Drama in Grangegorman, graduating with First Class Honours in 2022. He studied with Emmanuel Lawler and Aoife O'Sullivan and specialised in music pedagogy. Tiarnán began singing and playing the piano at an early age. He performed in many local musical theatre productions as a child and teenager, including leading roles in Legally Blonde, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Hairspray and many more. He completed his Royal Irish Academy of Music and Associated Board Examinations in both singing and piano, along with competing in the Feis Ceoil as a teenager. He has performed in many venues across Ireland, such as the National Concert Hall in both the main auditorium and the John Field Room, along with the Mansion House, Farmleigh House and the RDS. He has enjoyed much success in competitions such as the Feis Ceoil and TU Dublin Internal Competitions, winning first prize in competitions such the Bass Solo, the Veronica Dunne Trophy for Vocal Ensemble and the Lieder Prize. He currently teaches singing, piano and music theory in Dublin and Co. Wicklow to a wide range of students of all ages and abilities. He draws on his wealth of performance experience to help build confidence in his students, teaching techniques he uses himself for performances or exams. His classes are about enjoyment and creating an open and comfortable environment, all while keeping an emphasis on building a healthy technique and love for music. He adopts a holistic approach to his musical tuition, incorporating elements of musicianship in his music lessons by employing the techniques of Kodaly and Dalcroze, so students fully understand the music they are learning and eventually have the tools to tackle pieces on their own.
Job Titles:
- Egan
- Member of the Opera Chorus of the National Theatre of Pécs
Tünde Hodosán-Egan was born in Hungary. Tünde began her musical studies at the age of 7, studying music history and theory through the Kodály method.
She began learning piano at the age of 8 and later pursued vocal studies.
During her teenage years she began her conducting studies with Attila Kertész (Liszt Award winning conductor) at Zoltán Kodály Grammar School where she was a member and soprano soloist of Béla Bartók Girls Choir and where she later graduated with distinction in music history and theory.
Continuing her musical studies Tünde achieved a BA in music teaching and choral conducting at University College of Szombathely, Hungary.
Throughout her carrier Tünde has been a member of the Opera Chorus of The National Theatre of Pécs and numerous award-winning choirs.
Apart from teaching piano, Tünde is also musicianship teacher and deputy conductor of Amica Voce Chamber Choir.
Varazdat Khachatryan was born in Armenia, Varazdat Khachatryan has performed extensively as a soloist in his home country and abroad, with recent appearances in recital halls in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Armenia, Russia, Lebanon, Syria and the Czech Republic. His performances have received the highest praise from audiences and music critics alike. He has won numerous prestigious awards, including first prize in the Peter Donohoe piano competition and the Delia Hall Accompanist Prize. He also performs as an accompanist and choral conductor.
Varazdat started playing the piano at the age of five. In 1998 he entered Yerevan State Conservatoire, from where he graduated with distinction in piano and choral conducting. He holds Masters of Music degrees in both areas and an Advanced Postgraduate degree in piano performance (Aspirantura) from Yerevan State Conservatoire; and PgDip, MMus degrees in piano performance and MMus in piano accompaniment from Birmingham Conservatoire.
Varazdat has been also awarded Fiosraigh full scholarship from Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama (DIT) where he currently pursues his PhD degree working on a thesis which re-assesses Rachmaninoff's musical legacy.
Yael was born in Jerusalem to a musical family and moved to Toronto, Canada, at the age of 6. She is the third generation in her family to become a piano teacher, having helped her mother run the family business, North York Piano Studio. During her studies with Boris Zarankin she was awarded the ARCT diploma at the age of 16 by the Royal Conservatory of Music. At the University of Toronto, she continued her study of the piano with professor Brian Mcdonagh. Her BMus comprises a wide breadth of knowledge and experiences, from Shenkerian analysis to performing with the faculty's Women's Chorus. In 2018, she moved to Glasgow, Scotland, where she successfully ran her own studio, teaching piano and theory to pupils aged 5-14, as well as a handful of adults. She is passionate about endowing future generations with a long-running love for the arts.