Karen Ní Bhroin appointed as Conductor in Training with the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir

We are delighted to announce that Karen Ní Bhroin will be our Conductor in Training for the 2016-17 season. Here’s a bit more about her..

Karen is from Ferns, Co. Wexford and is a Music Education graduate of Trinity College Dublin, in collaboration with The Royal Irish Academy of Music and the DIT Conservatoire of Music and Drama. Karen began her musical training at the age of four on tin whistle, concertina and piano with her aunt, Nóra Kavanagh. From here Karen studied music with Gearóid Grant at FCJ Bunclody, where she began her studies on clarinet. In 2006 Karen was awarded a place at the RIAM to study clarinet under Fintan Sutton, and won the EBS Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil Senor Clarinet competition 2012.

She is currently undertaking an MPhil researching Orchestral Conducting at DIT Conservatoire of Music and Drama. Leaving the clarinet for the baton, Karen made her conducting debut with Trinity College Orchestra in 2012 in the final year of her degree. Karen has previously studied conducting privately with Robert Houlihan, Denise Ham, John Longstaff and David Brophy. She has also attended conducting courses and classes in Europe and America with Rodolfo Saglembeni, Neil Varon, Toby Purser, John Farrer, Neil Thomson and Alexander Walker, both in Europe and America.

Karen has previously conducted Dublin Symphony Orchestra, Humanitarian Symphony Orchestra, Dun Laoghaire Choral Society, The SuperTones Children’s Choir, Co-Orch Dublin, Enniscorthy Gospel Choir, Rochester Philharmonic – New York, The RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Trinity College Orchestra, Dublin, Dublin Concert Band and Ardee Concert Band. She has also worked with Galway Youth Orchestra and Wexford Sinfonia. Karen was one of 3 finalists in the ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil inaugural conducting competition where she conducted the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in 2014. Karen recently won the Orion Young Conductors Award. Karen was the first Music Director at Anville Sinfonia, Mount Anville Choral Society and Krescendo Kids Choir. She is currently the music director with St. Mary’s Brass and Reed Band and Orwell Health Care. She also holds the position of Deputy Conductor with Dublin Orchestral Players.