Ruah Berney-Pearson

Ruah graduated with a first class honours BMus from CIT Cork School of Music in 2016 where she focused on cello and conducting, with a second study in piano. She has since worked in roles including as a music teacher, conductor and choral singer. She has sung professionally as an Alto Lay Vicar Chorale in the choirs of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin and Saint Finbarres Cathedral, Cork and her choral background also includes numerous years with the Irish Youth Chamber Choir with whom she performed at London’s BBC Proms, sang among early vocal ensemble The Cardinall’s Musick at Kilkenny Arts Festival and toured to Toronto, Canada among other locations. She has conducted numerous vocal ensembles such as the Bon Secours Ladies Choir, Cork and as a cellist has played with ensembles such as David Brophy’s Sinfonua project orchestra. In 2019 she completed her Masters degree with distinction from Goldsmiths University, London working in soundscape design for contemporary performance.

Yael Nataly Kostrinsky

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.

Ms. Kah Mun Ong

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.

Jonathan Johnston

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.

Brendan Finan

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.

Varazdat Khachatryan

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.

Nicolaus Gregory

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.

Antoinette Kenna

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.

Gertie Ryan

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.

Anna Abramochkina

Anna Abramochkina was born in Siberia (USSR) and began her music studyies when she was 5 years old. She graduated from The State Music College of Tomsk as a piano teacher and also holds a BA in music and jazz performing from the State Russian Academy of Music in Moscow. Anna has performing as a solo singer at concerts and festivals around Russia and Europe. She participated in several national TV shows and programs including The Voice. She has acted in the Theatre of Music and Drama in Moscow, and recorded radio jingles for advertisements. Running parallel with her performing activity, Anna is a voice teacher for children and adults. She is in a process of studying a method of Estill voice training. She joined CSM in 2019 teaching singing, theory, choir and music theatre disciplines.

Anna Lewkowska

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.

Sarah Dalton

Sarah Dalton (nee O’Reilly) has been studying and performing music for in excess of 20 years. She attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music from the age of six, her principal instruments being piano and oboe. She studied piano under Professor Reámonn Keary and oboe and Cor Anglais under Professor Helmut Seeber and Professor Matthew Manning.

She attained her degree in Music and History from National University of Ireland, Maynooth, majoring in Music Performance. After, she went on to study music education in the University of Limerick, achieving a Graduate Diploma in Music Education. Sarah has experience teaching music in Ireland, the UK and the Middle East, both instrumentally and as part of school curricula. Sarah has performed both on a national and international level with various symphony orchestras and ensembles. She also performs at various events such as weddings, christenings and corporate occasions throughout Ireland as an orchestral instrumentalist, a chamber musician and soloist.

Sarah teaches piano, oboe and musicianship theory at Castleknock School of Music.

Tünde Hodosan-Egan

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.

Anna Melescik

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.

Ruth Gahan

Pedro Ponciano

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 LuizaO Cavalcanti – recognised 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 Hoonours Art Degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music. Pedro joined the CSM team in 2019.

Edwina Hopkinson

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 Bailey Hennessy

Erin has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across the United States and Ireland, including engagements with the Northwest Bach Festival, Walla Walla Symphony, ChamberFest Dublin, Camerata Ireland, and the Dublin Jazz Co-op. She is an avid proponent of new music, most recently collaborating with Sally Beamish in December 2019 on her piano trio, The Seafarer. She is also deeply invested in Irish traditional music and American old-time traditions, playing regularly at sessions in both Dublin and the United States. Erin is a devoted teacher, attending yearly seminars to develop her pedagogy and currently working with the Royal Irish Academy of Music to develop a new curriculum for young violinists. She studied with Marilyn McDonald at Oberlin Conservatory, Dr Amy Dodds at Whitman College, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Performance with Sarah Sew at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Mihály Magyarics

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

Antonello D’Orazio

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.

Chris Colloton

Chris has studied guitar from the age of 11 and is accomplished in varying styles which include Jazz, Rock, Blues, Folk, Traditional and Pop. He graduated from the well-known Dublin college Newpark Music Centre in 2014, completing a course created by the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Chris has many years performance and recording experience which has taken him all over Ireland and has performed at well-known music festivals throughout the country. He has also performed with various groups at many popular venues in the Dublin music scene.

As a teacher, Chris has many years’ experience dealing with a high volume of students in both electric and acoustic guitar and drums. He has guided students of all ages through exams including RGT, Rockschool and RIAM with great success.

Maurice Czerniak

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.

Stevie Darragh

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.

Stevie teaches acoustic, bass and electric guitar, ukulele and musicianship theory at Castleknock School of Music.

Orla Birkett

Orla began studying music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music from the age of 4, learning piano, viola, musicianship, singing and drama, and also became part of the RIAM Symphony Orchestra & the RIAM choir. She then went on to complete a Diploma in Music Teaching and Performance in the RIAM/Trinity College Dublin. After completing a Bachelor of Music from Maynooth University, she completed the Diploma of Licentiate from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, qualifying her to teach 3rd level standard students. Orla joined the CSM team in 2017.

Rachel Reid

Rachel holds a BMus from NUI Maynooth (2008) and a Masters in Performance and Musicology (2010). After completing her BMus degree specialising in Vocal Performance, Rachel continued her education by completing a Masters in Vocal Performance and Musicology. As well as enjoying teaching classical voice, music theatre, piano and theory at CSM, Rachel is an active soloist and performs regularly around the country. She is available for bookings through her website www.sopranosounds.com. Rachel has taught at CSM since 2009 and is a senior teacher at CSM.

Ronan Tierney

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.

Joseph Boyle

Joe began learning piano at the age of six and has been teaching professionally since 2018.

Joe is a former student of Prof. Anthony Byrne at the Royal Irish Academy of Music where he completed a Licentiate Diploma with Trinity College London.

Joe takes an individualised approach to teaching and has a wealth of experience tutoring beginner and advanced students alike. Joe joined the CSM team in 2018.