Teaching Staff
Niall O Brien (Violin, Leaving and Junior Certificate Music ) has been teaching violin in Dublin for over twenty years, preparing prizewinners at local and national level. Having created and directed the Adult String Ensemble at Waltons New School of Music, Niall directed both youth orchestras at Leeson Park School of Music and successfully led both orchestras on international engagements to London and Milan. As tutor, Niall has also coached with Dublin Youth Orchestras, Waterford Institute of Technology, and been engaged as guest instructor at Clare Music Makers with international violinist Angelo Calcafuoco.
While employed as Director of Newpark Music Centre, Niall created the Adult Orchestra and Summer Rock School and currently as Local and Area Representative of Trinity College Music Examinations (London) is engaged with all aspects of managing examination entries for the Dublin and east coast region.
With honours degrees in Classical Music and Jazz Performance and having toured with Bluegrass/Country and Popular bands/musicians, Niall has a wide range of interests musically.
Kim O’Brien (Flute and Pre-Instrumental) is a flautist completing her studies with William Dowdal at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Kim's studies will see her complete her Bachelor's of Music in Performance Degree while she already holds a Licentiate in Flute teaching from Trinity College (Music) London. She has extensive performance experience as a soloist and is a member of the prestigious RIAM Philharmonia. Kim has had a great passion for music since a very young age, starting the flute at just 6 years old and studying with Lynda Maloney at Leeson Park School of Music. She completed her grade exams with Trinity College and went on to be awarded the ATCL Diploma in 2017. As a past member of several youth orchestras and chamber groups, Kim has performed in well known Irish performance locations such as the National Concert Hall, the Olympia theatre and the Pavilion theatre. She has also travelled internationally to perform in Lisbon, Portugal and Leuven, Belgium.
Hugh O Byrne (Drum Kit and Percussion) has been teaching and playing music professionally for over twenty years. He studied percussion in DIT Conservatory of Music and later went on to complete his teaching diploma in Drum Kit and Orchestral Percussion with Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London). As a Kit player, Hugh has performed with a wide variety of groups and ensembles covering styles from Latin, Jazz, Soul, African, Pop and Rock. He also works regularly in Music Theatre and has toured internationally as a percussionist with the Dance Theatre of Ireland.
Tatyana Wearen (Violin) began her studies at Leeson Park School of Music at the age of 6 with Niall O’ Brien and finished her time at the school studying with Lidia Jewloszewicz Clarke. Tatyana completed her Bachelor of Music Performance degree at the Royal Irish Academy/Trinity College Dublin while studying first with Maeve Broderick and then Mia Cooper. She has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra and Dublin Youth Orchestra, Trinity College Orchestra, Sinfonua and the RIAM Philharmonia. As a soloists, Tatyana has participated in masterclasses with the Navarra Quartet, the Signum Quartet, Elaine Clarke, Michael D'Arcy and Kathrine Hunka. She has competed at Feis Ceoil both in the solo and chamber music categories and won first prize at the Newpark Music Festival. At Leeson Park School of Music she won the high achievers cup on three occasions.
Maurice Czerniak (Guitar) is largely a self taught guitarist, having learned by observation, intuition and jamming with contemporaries. In general as a musician, Maurice has performed as a singer/songwriter and played with many bands. He has recorded extensively in a variety of styles and amassed considerable experience as a rock musician. As a self taught musician, Maurice taught himself to read music and having studied Classical Guitar went on to complete his ATCL Classical Guitar Diploma with Trinity College London. As a tutor, Maurice has experience in teaching all styles, acoustic, electric and classical guitar and also enjoys teaching Theory of Music. Recently with the popularity of Ukelele Maurice has found himself in demand as a tutor of that instrument.
Judit Máté (Piano) is a Hungarian-born organist and music teacher based in Ireland since 2008. She grew up studying music through the Kodály method. Judit gained her BA degree in Music Education and Church Music in 2006 in Hungary and completed her Master’s Degree in Organ Performance, graduating with First Class Honours in 2016 at TU Dublin Conservatoire. Recently, Judit has performed recitals at Dun Laoghaire International Concert Series, at Tullamore Summer Organ Series , at Leran Music Festival (France), and in Hungary (Martinus Organ Festival in Szombathely, Church of the Calvary in Szombathely, Ják Abbey Church and Nyári orgonavarázs Organ Festival, Veszprém). Since 2010 Judit has been the organist and musical director of St Jude the Apostle Church in Templeogue and since 2014 Church of the Divine Word in Rathfarnham. In 2011 Judit founded and since then has been conducting the project-based St Jude’s Chamber Orchestra and Concert Choir. Their performances included Mass in C major by Rheinberger (2015), Missa Brevis in C major by Mozart, Harmonia Caelestis by Esterhazy (2013), Vivaldi’s Gloria (2012), Stabat Mater by Pergolesi (2011 and 2017) and contemporary Hungarian choral music (2019).