Meet a selection of our Academy team
Dedicated and talented music educators
The teaching staff of FAM offer a diverse background of experience and share a commitment to delivering excellent musical training to the people of Fingal. Meet some of our team below.
Dónal has worked as Director of Fingal Academy of Music since 2016. As a soloist, he has performed in sixteen countries across three continents, and has recorded internationally.
Dónal is a vocal coach with Ulster Youth Choirs, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, and became a certified Community Music Leader with Musicians Without Borders in 2015. He delivers workshops in voice production, storytelling and advocacy. He is also passionate about Irish folksong. For his full portfolio of creative projects, visit www.donalkearney.com.
Academy Co-Director
Dónal Kearney
Lea has been a member of the FAM team since 2018 and holds a MA in Arts Policy & Practice from NUIG. She studied singing under Virginia Kerr and Regina Nathan at RIAM, toured the world with the Maynooth University Chamber Choir and has been a member of other acclaimed ensembles, including ANÚNA. She loves Early and Baroque music, especially G.F. Handel.
Academy Manager
Lea Försterling
Michelle studied in Berlin and works as a professional singer and vocal coach all over Europe. Michelle combines her classical training and background in Baroque music with an adventurous eclecticism and a passion for collaboration. Michelle's fun approach to technique make for a world-class teacher.
Head of Vocal Studies
Michelle O'Rourke
Graham is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and music producer with professional performing experience in various genres, including traditional Irish music, Flamenco, and Indian music. He has been working with acclaimed Irish traditional/folk singer Niamh Parsons for the past twenty years, with whom he has toured the world.
Guitar Tutor
Graham Dunne
Sarah is founder of Cadence Music Academy, Balbriggan. She teaches violin, musicianship, tin whistle and traditional fiddle. For Sarah's full portfolio, click here.
Cadence Director
Sarah May Rogers
Christopher studied singing and guitar at Fingal Academy of Music before joining the team as a Drums Tutor. He also sang in Fingal Youth Choir, and now gigs with various projects.
Drum Tutor
Chris Sheridan
Andrew is an award-winning songwriter and is recognised as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Andrew's teaching puts the emphasis on hard work and fun.
Guitar, Piano & Drums Tutor
Andrew Dempsey
Victoria is a violinist and singer with a wealth of experience. Having graduated from a Music degree at Queen's University Belfast, she has performed all over Ireland and internationally as a professional musician. She is a founder member of Ardú, Ireland's premier a cappella ensemble.
Violin & Vocal Tutor
Victoria Warwick
Hugh took a year off from teaching at FAM to further his own professional career as a performing musician. He returns as a Piano and Violin tutor with a special talent for making music fun!
Violin & Piano Tutor
Hugh Clarke
Michael has recently returned from Los Angeles where he was studying a Doctoral degree in Choral Music at the University of Southern California. Prior to moving to the U.S., he worked at the National University of Ireland Maynooth where he led the choir to win several International competitions including the "Choir of the World" title at the Llangollen Eisteddfod. He has adjudicated choral competitions nationally and internationally and is regularly invited to provide clinics to groups visiting Ireland. For a full biography, visit www.michaeltdawson.com
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Academy Co-Director
Michael T. Dawson
Jenny is an accomplished musician and educator. Jenny teaches in Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School and recently became Ethical Education Teacher of the Year.
Ukulele & Violin Tutor
Jenny Stanley
Fergus is a guitarist and singer working as Fingal Arts Musician-in-Residence here at Fingal Academy of Music. Fergus tours and records internationally as a member of the vocal ensembles ANÚNA and M'ANAM.
Schools Outreach
Fergus Cahillane
Claire studied choral conducting in Hungary and has led Fingal Children's Choir since the very first rehearsal in 2013.
FCC Conductor
Claire Sheedy
Andrea has been teaching young voices for ten years, and has spent the past few years touring internationally as an educator and performer. She is in demand at professional events across Ireland, and sings and records as a soloist with various ensembles.
Voice Tutor
Andrea Delaney
Eoin Conway completed his MMus in Vocal Performance at the RIAM in 2016, studying with Lynda Lee. He is in regular demand as a countertenor for solo and ensemble work, and recently made his opera debut with Opera Collective Ireland.
​He has sung in choirs all his life, and is currently a lay-vicar at Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, the musical director of Ireland's leading barbershop quartet 4 in a Bar, co-director of the early music specialists Peregryne, and a deputy member of top European choirs Collegium Vocale and Det Norske Solistkor. He also works as an accompanist and arranger, with pieces published by Seolta Music and Cailíno Music Publishers.
FYC/CF Conductor
Eoin Conway
Aoibhinn studied piano under Michael T. Dawson at Fingal Academy of Music before joining the faculty as a piano tutor in 2017. She is currently studying clinical speech and language therapy.
Piano Tutor
Aoibhinn Bannigan
Becky is a talented musician and a veritable mover and shaker. She is a fantastic singer, arranger and choral director. Becky also loves to teach music to little ones!
Pre-Instrumental
