Regina Hanley
Regina Hanley P.P.R.N.C.M., ( Lyric Soprano) is a native of Tullow, Co. Carlow. She began her studies at the College of Music, in Dublin before going to The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Regina has worked as an opera singer with many of the main opera companies in the U.K. and Ireland. These include The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Glyndebourne, Scottish Opera, Opera Northern Ireland, Wexford Opera Festival, Opera Ireland, and Opera Theatre Company. Her roles include, Nedda (Pagliacci), Flora (La Traviata), Emily Marty (The Makropulous Case), Jenufa, Katya Kabanova, Lisa (Pique Dame) Tatiana (Eugene Onegin) Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) to name but a few. Regina's singing career has taken her to many countries in the world, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, etc to Russia.
A versatile performer Regina is equally at home with the world of concert, oratorio and popular music.She is a founder member of a trio called The Celtic Divas. They sing beautifully arranged well-known classical and much loved Irish songs and popular show numbers all in a dynamic show. They recorded their cd with The Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Power Pipe Band. They have toured extensively and as far away as Canada where they were special guests of The Canadian Tenors.
Regina is the vocal tutor for the pop singers at the Waterford Institute and also is part of the teaching team for the Adult education.
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Nicola Harding
Nicola began singing informally with Seamus Brennan in Kilkenny before studying with Mary Daly and Helan Hassett at the Cork School of Music while completing a BA (Music and Mathematics) at University College Cork. During this time she also studied Sean Nós Eilís Ní Shuilleabhain, jazz with Paul O'Donnell, and Baroque studies with Helen Hassett. After her degree course, Nicola studied music education at University of Limerick, where she investigated traditional song and Sean Nós singing further with Sandra Joyce.
Nicola has a long association with Kilkenny Musical Society and Watergate Productions playing several roles since her return to Kilkenny. Her favourite role being that of Pitti-Sing in 'The Hot Mikado' .( Gilbert & Sullivan, adapted by Bell and Bowman, director Fergus Heffernan and musical director, Patrick Clancy.) This production also played at the Waterford Light Opera Festival in 2006.
Nicola stepped onto the concert platform in 2008 with the Kilkenny Choir as soprano soloist in Pergolesi's 'Stabat Mater' and Mozart's 'Missa Brevis in Bb' in St. John's Church, Kilkenny. She then sang the role of the first woman in Handel's 'Solomon' with The Guiness Choir in 2009 in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin under the baton of David Milne. Nicola sang the Echo in Bach's 'Christmas Oratorio' with The Guiness Choir in 2010, again under the director, David Milne in the Wexford Opera House and the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin. Nicola also regularly performs with the Kilkenny Chamber Orchestra under the direction of William McGlynn and is currently the lead singer with the Bluebird Quintet jazz band.
Nicola is educated and experienced in a broad range of musical styles making her a versatile performer. She has used her talent and education to provide numerous couples with very complimentary music for their most special of days and with her jazz experience can create a wonderful atmosphere for any drinks reception. Nicola is based in Co. Kilkenny.
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Alison Doyle
Alison Doyle is a versatile vocalist who has extensive performing experience. She began her training with Irish soprano Deirdre Masterson, and has attended masterclasses with Ross Campbell (Guilford), Linda Hutchinson (D’Oly Carte/British Vocal Association), John Scott (The Three Tenors), Taylor Wilson (international vocalist), Morgan Crowley (West End/Broadway), Ronan Tynan (The Irish Tenors) and Bill Lewis (MET Opera New York). Alison is the AIMS Best Actress Award recipient for 2010 and she won a Wexford County Council Bursary in ’05 and ’09 to further her vocal studies. Also, Alison was a recipient of a Higher Achiever Award from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and was invited to perform at that award ceremony.
Alison’s music theatre roles include Charity ‘Sweet Charity’(O.L.T.G.), Nancy ‘Oliver’(K.M.S.), Julia ‘The Wedding Singer’ (O.L.T.G.)-the Irish Premiere, Giulia ‘The Gondoliers’ (Festival Productions)- National Concert Hall, Dublin and Buxton Opera House, England, Gianetta ‘The Gondoliers’, Cossette ‘Les Miserables’, principal dancer ‘Chicago’ (Wexford Opera House Gala), Maria ‘West Side Story’ (I.V.M. opera scenes), chorus ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ (Jim Molloy Promotions-The Helix and Festival Productions-Buxton). She has performed in Lucia di Lammermoor’ with LyricOpera in the N.C.H. and has also played romantic lead in the short musical film, ‘Chairs’, sponsored by the Irish Film Board, and premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh.
Due to her studies and performance career, Alison is comfortable singing whichever genre of music you wish to have at your wedding for example, Pop/Classical/Crossover/Irish/Jazz. Alison performs regularly at weddings as a soloist throughout Ireland and occasionally in the UK and Europe. She is also a member of soprano trio Celtic Harmony, and is a vocalist for the jazz/swing wedding band ‘Some Like It Hot Orchestra’. She also performs at Hits of the Musicals, gala concerts, recitals and charity events frequently. Alison’s most recent performance engagements include ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in the Gaiety in March, and ‘Shelter Me From the Rain’- an Opera for Carlow with the National Symphony Orchestra in May.
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Joanne McCabe
Joanne McCabe has been singing as long as she can remember and is an experienced soloist. She began performing at weddings at the early age of eleven and enjoyed being a part of someone’s special day so much that she hasn’t stopped yet! Being from a musical household Joanne has always been surrounded by talented musicians in many different genres including folk, traditional and country music. When she began formal voice training at the age of 14 she fell in love with the world of classical music and musical theatre. During this training Joanne has been tutored by many influential names. These include Linda Hutchison of the British Vocal Association, Deirdre Masterson of ‘The Irish Sopranos’, successful Mezzo-Sopranos Bridget Knowles and Taylor Wilson, Roland Purcell of the Vienna Boys Choir, Vanessa Sadlier at the Waterford Institute of Technology and Alan Leech of the National Chamber Choir among others.
Joanne has competed nationwide with successes including the Capuchin annual cup for the popularisation of National airs, the Cecilian Perpetual Challenge Cup for Artistic Interpretation, the Fintan O’ Carroll Voice of the Feis 2007 and the Woodworth Perpetual Cup for vocal repertoire. She has excelled in her formal vocal exams with both the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music and the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
Joanne is a former member of the prestigious Irish Youth Choir and has performed with them in venues such as the National Gallery of Ireland and Saint Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny. She has been the youngest member of the well-known Carrigbyrne Pike Choir in County Wexford for ten years, now performing as their soloist and guest Soprano. She continues to be heavily involved in choral pursuits including the Cloughbawn Parish Choir.
In 2008 she played the lead soprano role ‘Harvest Home’ in the youth opera “Peace” in conjunction with Opera Ireland and Summer Music on the Shannon with performances in Co. Clare as well as the Friars Gate Theatre and the University Concert Hall in Limerick. Through this work Joanne had the opportunity to work with composer Carl Davis (composer of many scores for ballets, operas, television documentaries and films such as Pride and Prejudice) and Canadian conductor Bruce Dunn.
Her clear-cut voice and musicality saw her become a vocalist on the Music Made Easy Programme designed to facilitate the music curriculum in Irish primary schools which is circulated nationwide. She has sang at hundreds of weddings and her voice has been aired on RTE Radio 1.
In 2009 Joanne had the honour of being the opening vocalist in a concert to commemorate Waterford born opera composer William Vincent Wallace (1812-1865) and has also performed in the Thomas Moore Festival in Dublin. She has performed with Lyric Opera in their productions of Carmen and La Traviata at the National Concert Hall with conductor Fergus Sheil. She also performs with Jim Molloy Promotions at Wexford Opera House.
In September 2010 Joanne performed a sell-out solo concert ranging in taste from classical to contemporary and everything in between, accompanied by Yvonne Collier. Joanne was one of four Wexford Sopranos hand picked to perform a new arrangement of the famous Wexford Carol by David Wray (Musical Director of ‘The Irish Sopranos’) which was performed for the first time in Wexford Opera House last December.
She enjoys performing a variety of music having sung along side many various acts including Simon Casey and showband legend Brendan Boyer. In addition to her music Joanne also holds a First Class Honours Degree in Early Childhood Studies. She currently teaches voice part-time and has just finished playing the title role in the operetta ‘The Merry Widow’ with Gorey Musical Society in April 2011.
Regardless of the performance type Joanne’s experience in a variety of situations will ensure that the music for your occasion will not disappoint! Joanne is based in County Wexford.
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart"
Helen Keller
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