Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

I am a Musical Magpie and my career so far has definitely reflected that! Although my main position is as Professor of Harp at TU Dublin Conservatoire where I teach a wonderful studio of precollege and college harpists, I also actively perform all around the world. I am tenured with Rochester Philharmonic and also regularly play with the National Symphony Orchestra in Ireland. I really will play anything that is thrown at me, but I especially enjoy collaborating with/ pestering composers until they write for me! Recently that has led to commissioning and premiering a number of concertos including a concerto for electric harp and orchestra by DJ Sparr, Mountains become Oceans concerto for Harp and Percussion by Angela Elizabeth Slater and S. Shade Zajac's I am the Lizard King for harp and orchestra as well as performing with many chamber groups and orchestras. In the past year I have recorded two new CD's, Nollaig na mBan with Hats+Heels Duo and War and Peace with The Pandora Trio. In addition to my work as a musician, I am also an actress combining music and theatre wherever possible and working as a narrator and voiceover artist.​

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What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

The Adirondacks hold a huge part of my heart, especially as I have been the harpist at Lake George Festival since I was a doctoral student. It truly is my happy place and I am looking forward to spending extended time in the area with both festivals. Musically, I'm excited to work with the fantastic students and esteemed faculty from around the world.

 

What can campers expect to learn while working with you this summer?

I challenge all my students to play loud enough that the conductor asks them to be quiet! When it says p in your orchestral part - that likely means that it's a solo - don't play quietly! 

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Joking aside, we'll focus on strategies for learning and preparing orchestral parts before rehearsals start, cover solo repertoire and have 'technique tonic' classes where we have a check in how you are feeling behind the instrument and how to practice effectively, both mentally and physically. In chamber coachings, we'll explore some of the chamber harp repertoire and the large range of mixed ensembles the harp can work in. In orchestra sectionals and rehearsals, we'll focus on the art of both leading and following within a section.