Browse the biographies of our founders and partners:

John A. Walsh (Trumpet)

John Walsh began his musical studies as a member of the Artane Boy’s Band and subsequently studied Trumpet with Mr. Josef Csibi at the College of Music, Dublin. Under Mr. Graham Hastings (Principal Trumpet – National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland), he completed an Honour’s degree in music performance (Trinity College Dublin).

John Walsh

Further study was taken with Mr. David Mason (Royal College of Music – London), Mr. Raymond Mase (Chair of Brass at Julliard School for Performing Arts, New York), and at masterclasses with Mr. John Wallace. In June 2007, he completed a Masters degree in Performance and Musicology, at NUI Maynooth.

John has performed many solo recitals and regularly with The R.T.E. Concert Orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra of St. Cecilia, The Orlando Chamber Orchestra, and The Irish Baroque Orchestra.

[]

Desmond Earley (Organ)

Born in Dublin, Desmond Earley is a scholarship winner of the College of Music and an honours graduate in Music and Politics of University College Dublin, where he took the BA and Bmus respectively. He undertook organ studies with Peter Sweeney at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, having previously studied organ, keyboard techniques and score reduction to the keyboard with Charles Pearson, and pianoforte with Eoin Garrett. Desmond was awarded the UCD Organ Scholarship in 1997.

Desmond Earley

He is Organist of University College Dublin, a former Director of UCD College Choir and Artistic Director of UCD Choral Scholars since its foundation in 1998. With UCD Choral Scholars he has made a number of international tours to Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Italy, including a second visit to Rome (December 2003) by invitation to perform in a concert celebrating Ireland’s assumption of the EU presidency, and at a concert to mark 25 years of the Pontificate of John Paul II. He produced and directed "Ad Astra - Collections", the CD awarded 'best chamber choir recording' in 2001, and Road of Passage, the CD released to mark the 150th Year of the foundation of UCD in 2004. Recent performances with this group (and orchestra) have included Messiah by Handel, Requiem by Fauré (the 1893 orchestration) and Kršnungsmesse Kv 317 by Mozart.

[]

Sharon Carty (Mezzo-Soprano)

Following a period of study with Philip O'Reilly, Sharon was awarded a first class honours diploma in Vocal Teaching and Performance at the RIAM in 2002. She now studies on the Opera Course in the University for Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, with Professor Leopold Spitzer.

Desmond Earley

Sharon has sung the roles of ‘Ruggiero’ in Handel’s Alcina, ‘Mazet’ in Gounod’s La Colombe and ‘Ké-Ki-Ka-Ko’ in Offenbach’s Ba-ta-clan at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst. Previous roles include ‘Nora’ in Vaughn Williams’ Riders to the Sea (Anna Livia International Opera Fringe Festival, Dublin July 2006), ‘Dorabella’ in Così fan tutte (‘Bei Mozart, ist alles Oper’ project, Reichenau, Austria August 2006), ‘Cherubino’ in Le Nozze di Figaro (Royal Irish Academy of Music, January 2007), ‘Angiolina’ in Rossini’s La Cenerentola (Montalto, Ligure July 2007).

Sharon won the German Government Cup in the 2007 Dublin Seimen’s Feis Ceoil. As a concert and oratorio soloist, Sharon has performed with the UCD Choral Scholars, the Lassus Scholars, the County Kildare Orchestra and the Goethe Institut choir and has recently sung in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Castletown House, and the Wienermusikverein, Vienna. She sings regularly at events and ceremonies in Ireland.

Contact us if you are interested in our service, or if you have a question.