Anne-Marie’s musical journey began at age six when she won
her first vocal competition at Feis Shligigh. At thirteen Anne-Marie was awarded a Special Prize for her vocal
performance on RTE’s Young Musician
Programme which was broadcast on FM3 Radio. As a teenage she travelled fortnightly to Dublin for singing lessons
with the late Daniel McNulty. During
this time Anne-Marie won numerous vocal competitions in solo singing at Dublin
Feis Ceoil, Dubln Feis Maitiu, Sligo Feis Ceoil, Feis Shligigh, Arklow and
Kilcoole feiseanna, as well as All-Ireland winner of Scór na nÓg.
At eighteen Anne-Marie studied voice, piano and theory at the
College of Music, Dublin (aka TU Dublin Conservatoire). During her time there she was awarded
numerous vocal scholarships, having gained Distinction
in her Associated Board Vocal Examinations. By the age of twenty-one Anne-Marie
had won several vocal competitions. This
included six first prizes at the prestigious Dublin Feis Ceoil (Percy Whithead Cup, Charles Wilson Cup, AIMS
Trophy, Corn Mhic Cathmhaoil, Mná, Vocal Duet); winner of virtually every singing competition at
Dublin Feis Maitiu (e.g. The Michael O’Higgins Premier Vocal Bursary, Soprano
Solo, Oratorio Medal, Gore Cup, Perpetual Challenge Cup) and College of Music,
Dublin (French Song Award and Lieder Prize).
Associated Board pianoforte and theory examinations were also undertaken
whilst at the college. During this period Anne-Marie became a member of the RTE
Chamber Choir (aka The National Chamber Choir of Ireland) under the
directorship of the late Colin Mawby. As
Soprano 1, Anne-Marie was a regular soloist with this choir which recorded
weekly for RTE’s FM3 Radio, as well as preparing for numerous concert
engagements.
In 1990 Anne-Marie moved to London to further her vocal
studies with David Harper and Britta Sundberg (Sweden). She took part in the Mayer-Lismann Opera Workshop at the Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden and Opera Theatre Company’s
Baroque Opera Workshop with Jennifer Smith and Marshall Pynkoske in Dublin. She participated in masterclasses given by Geoffrey Parsons, Paul Hamburger,
Laura Sarti, Neil Jenkins, Bernadette Greevy and Robin Bowman.
Anne-Marie has vast experience as a solo performer. She has performed over fifty oratorios in
such places as St. Martin-in-the-Fields, St. Albans Abbey and Southwark
Cathedral, London; Cambridge University, Notre Dame Church, Guernsey, Channel
Islands; National Concert Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College
Dubin. Irish choral societies with which
Anne-Marie has performed as soloist include the Dun Laoghaire Choral Society,
Tallaght Choral Society, Culwick Choral Society, Dublin County Choir, Trinity
College Dublin Choral Society, RTE Chamber Choir, Carlow Choral Society, Sligo
Orpheus Choir and the Maynooth Alumni Choir.
Venues for concert and recital work as soloist include
Belfast’s Waterfront Concert Hall, The RDS Concert Hall, Royal Hospital
Kilmainham, John Field Room, National Concert Hall, House of Lords, Bank of
Ireland Arts Centre, National Gallery and Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin; University
of London and NUI Club, Eaton Square, London. Anne-Marie had appeared as a soloist on RTE and BBC television as well
as RTE 1, FM3, Lyric FM and Ocean FM radio.
Anne-Marie’s operatic roles include Susanna/Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro – Mozart); Madame
Goldentrill (Der Schauspieldirektor –
Mozart); Blonde (Die Entführung aus dem
Serail – Mozart). First Boy (Die
Zauberflöte – Mozart); Gretel/Dew Fairy (Hansel & Gretel – Humperdinck); Mrs Wrighton (The Cryer – J Hook), Maturina (Don Giovanni – Gazzaniga); Bacchis (La Belle Helene – Offenbach); Giannetta
(L’Elisir d’Amore – Donizetti) and Emma (King
Alfred – Arne).
Anne-Marie graduated with a BA Mus (Hons) in 2001 and an MA
(Hons) in Performance and Musicology
in 2003 from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. In December 2022, Anne-Marie was awarded Distinction in
her Licentiate Diploma to the Royal Schools of Music London (LRSM) for Vocal Performance.
September 2003 Anne-Marie moved back to Sligo to teach music privately in her native town. Her dedication and excellent teaching over the last twenty years have led to outstanding success with her students (see Student Achievements). Anne-Marie also worked in primary schools as part of the ‘Music in the Classroom’ project, and in secondary schools, directing transition year students in their school musical and teaching the leaving-certificate and junior-certificate music curriculum. In 2020, Anne-Marie began her online classes. Whilst she continues to offer face-to-face lessons, online classes have become a popular choice with local students as well as people throughout Ireland and beyond.