Our Teachers
Piano, Theory, Junior & Leaving Cert Music.
Ms, Aideen Cooney; B.A.Mus (Hons) H. Dip. Ed (Hons) Dip.Lit.Mus (Hons)
Aideen Cooney is a graduate of NUI Maynooth, holding a BA Mus (Hons), and Trinity College Dublin, where she earned an H.Dip.Ed (Hons).
Her piano studies began under Mrs. Betty Healy (RIAM) and continued with Mr. Chris Dyell at CDVEC, Kylemore College (ABRSM) and Mr. Leonard Dorian at NUI Maynooth.
Prior to founding Cooney School of Music, Aideen taught Junior and Leaving Certificate music in several schools, including St. Peter's College, Dunboyne; Manor House, Raheny; St. Raphaela’s, Stillorgan; and Mount Sackville, Chapelizod. While at St. Peter’s College, she served as the musical director for the school production of ‘Blood Brothers.’ She also spent a year teaching at CDVEC Kylemore College, where she instructed students in piano, theory, and Junior & Leaving Certificate Music courses. She eventually left to establish her own music school, which has been successfully operating since 2004. From 2004 to 2017, Aideen taught music appreciation and choir to students from 3rd to 6th class at Terenure College Junior School.
Aideen is a highly experienced accompanist, having worked with numerous students for RIAM and ABRSM examinations, as well as for Junior and Leaving Certificate practical exams.
Her recording experience includes contributions to two film soundtracks: ‘The Formorian’
(Dir: Aideen McCarthy) and ‘Thou Art: Dublin’ (Dir: Camille Weiner). The latter premiered in New York at the Queens Film Festival on St. Patrick’s Day 2017.
Since January 2018, Aideen has served as the Choral Director for St. Mary’s Youth Choir at
St. Mary’s Parish Lucan. The choir performs weekly at the 10:30 am Mass, participates in the parish Christmas carol service, and competes in choir competitions nationwide. Aideen has a strong passion for church music and graduated with first-class honours from the Diploma in Liturgical Music program at Maynooth University in 2024.
Vocal Coach; classical, pop and musical theatre.
Ms. Shauna Buckingham; B.A.Mus (Hons)
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​Shauna Buckingham is a distinguished Irish soprano and opera singer, holding a first-class honours degree from the D.I.T. Conservatory of Music and Drama. With an extensive repertoire, she has performed in numerous Irish opera productions, portraying roles such as Gretel in "Hansel & Gretel" and Musetta in "La Bohème." Other roles include Flora in "The Turn of the Screw," Juno in "Orpheus in the Underworld," and Barbarina in "Le Nozze di Figaro."
In addition to her opera achievements, Shauna has displayed her talent on television, notably in "X Factor," where Simon Cowell recognized her as a potential "dark horse of the competition." She has also appeared on Eurosong as part of the band M.N.A and reached the semi-finals of the All-Ireland Talent Show.
Dedicated to a wide range of musical genres, she performs regularly in cabaret shows across Dublin and entertains audiences as part of the "Singing Waiters," combining opera, pop, and musical theatre in her performances.​