Our Teachers
Aideen Cooney
Piano, Theory, Junior & Leaving Cert Music, Pre-Instrumental, Cara Awards
Ms, Aideen Cooney; B.A.Mus (Hons) H. Dip. Ed (Hons)
Aideen Cooney is a graduate of NUI Maynooth, BA Mus(Hons) and Trinity College Dublin, H.Dip.Ed (Hons).
She began her studies in piano under Mrs. Betty Healy (RIAM) and then later with Mr. Chris Dyell at CDVEC, Kylemore College (ABRSM) and Mr. Leonard Dorian at NUI Maynooth.
Before Aideen founded Cooney School of Music, she taught Junior and Leaving Certificate music in a number of schools including St. Peters College, Dunboyne, Manor House, Raheney, St. Raphaelas, Stillorgan and Mount Sackville, Chapelizod. During her time at St.Peters College, she was musical director for the school musical, ‘Blood Brothers’. Having spent a year teaching at CDVEC Kylemore College, where she taught piano, theory, and the courses for Junior & Leaving Certificate Music, she left to set up her own music school which has now been in operation since 2004. From 2004 to 2017, she was at Terenure College Junior School, where she taught music appreciation and choir to the students from 3rd to 6th class.
Aideen is an experienced accompanist, accompanying many students for RIAM and ABRSM examinations, and has extensive experience as an accompanist for Junior and Leaving certificate practicals.
She has played on a number of recordings including two film soundtracks, ‘The Formorian’ (Dir:Aideen McCarthy) and ‘Thou Art : Dublin’ (Dir: Camille Weiner). The later received its New York premiere at the Queens Film Festival on St. Patricks Day 2017.
Aideen has also been the Choral Director for St. Marys Youth Choir at St. Marys Parish Lucan since January 2018. The choir perform weekly at the 10.30am mass and also perform at the carol service at Christmas time in the parish and participate in choir competitions throughout the country. She is currently studying for a Diploma in Liturgical Music at Maynooth University.
Nicola Lahert
Voice, Piano, Theory, Pre-Instrumental
Ms. Nicola Lahert; B.A.Mus (Hons) M.A.Perf. & Musicology (Hons)
Nicola is a graduate of NUI Maynooth where she achieved her B.A.Mus and M.A. in Performance and Musicology with Honours.
She began her vocal training at a young age with Ms. Irene Thompson-Trenier, where she developed her love of performance in the Classical and Musical Theatre repertoires. During her time at Maynooth she studied for her Masters Recital under the tuition of renowned Irish soprano Ms. Virginia Kerr and repetiteur Ms. Aileen Cahill.
Nicola has performed in many venues including The Helix, The National Concert Hall, and The Royal College of Surgeons. She has been a member of the Maynooth Choral Society during her time in Maynooth and was privileged to sing solo at the Annual Carol Services. She has been awarded multiple prizes for solo voice, duet singing at the Arklow Feis, the Newpark Festival and she won the Charles Wilson Cup for the operatic ensemble at Feis Ceoil 2016. In the same year, she won the Maynooth University Orchestra soloist competition performing Pergolesi’s, ‘Stabat Mater’ multiple times, in venues including Galway Cathedral. She is a former member of the Schola Gregoriana of NUI Maynooth. They specialise in Plainchant performance and she has completed several concert engagements with them in Hungary.
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