Blánaid Murphy

Blánaid Murphy began her music career in London, studying piano with Beatrice Franklova and organ with Ian Curror. In 1984 she was awarded an organ scholarship to Selwyn College, Cambridge, graduating in music in 1987.

For four years, Blánaid furthered her studies with Professor Konrad Richter. She participated in masterclasses in Bayreuth with Susan Wenckus, at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, with Hartmut Höll, and founded and directed the Murphy Singers in Stuttgart. She has wide experience as a pianist and conductor in Germany and throughout Europe.

Since 1993, Blánaid has been based in Dublin and is in great demand as a conductor, vocal coach and pianist. She is Choral Director of the RTÉ Children's Choir Cór na nÓg, Carlow Choral Society, Draiocht, and Celtic Ayres. Blánaid is also Choral Director of the Irish Philharmonic Chorus on the record-breaking Faith of Our Fathers recording, and in 1997 formed the Chamber Choir, Canzona, with whom she recently performed Bach's St. John Passion in Dublin and Wexford, and with whom she has recorded the CD, Scenes of an Irish Christmas.

Another recent project has been the recording of the CD, Ireland's Voices for Peace, which features many of the above choirs together with childrens choirs from Northern Ireland, and the proceeds of which will go towards funding a Children's cross-border Choir Trust. Ireland's Voices for Peace is currently on tour and will repeat its Wexford and National Concert Hall performances in Carlow Cathedral during Eigse.

In March of this year, Blánaid conducted Carlow Choral Society's performance of Handel's Messiah in St. David's Cathedral, Wales, and is planning to return there with them next Spring.

Caimin Collins

Caimin Collins is a free-lance choreographer/director/performer currently based in Dublin. He is a graduate of The Samuel Beckett Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies, Trinity College, and has trained in various dance styles at The College of Dance, Dublin, and Stepps on Broadway, New York City. He has also a musical background in fiddle and percussion. In 1995, he was appointed Associate Artistic Director of Siamsa Tire, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, where he devised two large-scale productions: Immram and Eachtra, as well as other school shows and gallery performances. In The Examiner Anne Lucey describes him as a "23-year-old man with energy and vision." "Gripping ... sophisticated ... spectacular ... quite amazing" are the terms she uses in her review of Eachtra, his most recent production for The National Folk Theatre. During this time he lectured and gave workshops for the drama content of the National Diploma in Folk Theatre Studies in Tralee R.T.C., and was a committee member of Samhlaocht Chiarra, the Kerry Arts Festival. He has worked with Opera Theatre Company as Assistant Director/Choreographer for Cinderella and as Movement Consultant on The Rake's Progress which had its Dublin premier at the R.D.S. He has recently been Producer for the Ireland's Voices for Peace concerts in Wexford, Carlow Eigse Festival and N.C.H., Dublin.

David Mooney

David Mooney was a student at the Schola Cantorum, established by the Irish Catholic Hierarchy at St. Finian's College, Mullingar, to educate church musicians. He subsequently studied for Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music at Maynooth University and has recently successfully completed a Ph.D. in Music at University College, Dublin. He is a lecturer in piano and academic studies at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. His work as a composer/arranger has resulted in two CDs which were released by Viking Records: Scenes of an Irish Christmas (1997) and Ireland's Voices for Peace (1998). Several of the arrangements can purchased. He is also a founder member of the Blacktie National Piano Competition, and a contributor to the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.