Music by Brahms, Schubert, Rossini, Elgar, Finzi, Rodgers & Hammerstein and more. Sinéad Carroll, Laura McLaughlin, Alfie Kennedy, Rory Dunne and Orlaith Sharkey Exploring themes of love and loss, and of life and death, this programme presents a wide range of songs in German, Italian and English. Following two of the most dramatic and powerful examples of German lieder in the repertoire by Brahms and Schubert, and some of the most beloved songs from the Great American Songbook (both for voice and jazz piano) the recital closes with English composer Gerald Finzi’s charming song cycle setting Shakespearean verse, which takes its name from the final line of the second song in the set: “Let Us Garlands Bring”. Johannes Brahms: Treue Liebe, op.7 no.1 Gioacchino Rossini: Canzonetta spagnuola Franz Schubert: Der Tod und das Mädchen, D.531 Edward Elgar: Sea Pictures, op.37 (iv. Where Corals Lie) Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II: If I Loved You (from Carousel) Sinéad Carroll, soprano & Laura McLaughlin, piano Johnny Green: Body and Soul Arthur Schwartz: Alone Together Eric Maschwitz: These Foolish Things
Alfie Kennedy, jazz piano Gerald Finzi: Let Us Garlands Bring, op.18 i. "Come Away, Come Away, Death"
(Twelfth Night) ii. "Who Is Silvia?" (The Two Gentlemen of Verona) iii. "Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun" (Cymbeline) iv. "O Mistress Mine" (Twelfth Night) v. "It Was a Lover and His Lass" (As You Like It) Rory Dunne, bass-baritone & Orlaith Sharkey, piano About the Musicians
Sinéad Carroll is a distinguished Irish soprano from Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. Growing up in the culturally rich region of Sliabh Luachra, she was deeply influenced by its vibrant musical heritage. Her early immersion in traditional Irish music laid the foundation for her passion for performance. Beginning with the fiddle and progressing through classical violin and piano, her musical journey ultimately led her to classical singing, where she continues to honour the Irish tradition of storytelling through her performances. An alumna of the MTU Cork School of Music, Sinéad earned her Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree from 2017 to 2021, specialising in voice under the tutelage of acclaimed soprano Mary MacSweeney. She went on to complete her Master’s in Music Performance) with first-class honours in 2023, studying with renowned soprano Kelley Lonergan. Currently, Sinéad is pursuing a Guildhall Artist Masters in Vocal Performance at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. This advanced program allows her to further refine her artistry, deepen her academic studies, and develop her performance skills under the mentorship of world-class professionals in a thriving creative environment. Sinéad’s professional engagements include performances with Irish National Opera (INO) as a chorus member in productions such as Verdi’s La Traviata (2024) and Puccini’s La Bohème (2023). In summer 2022, she sang in the chorus for John O’Brien’s The Morrigan at Cork Opera House. From 2018 to 2023, she was a committed member of Cork Opera Platform, performing in numerous operatic scenes and solo works. Her versatility also extends to choral singing, with past involvement in ensembles such as Plain Trouble, South Kerry Rosen Choir, Glór, Capella Lyrica, and the Bunratty Castle Entertainers. She has also served as a cantor at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney. Alongside her studies at Guildhall, Sinéad continues to perform in concerts across London and Ireland. She is known for captivating audiences with her commanding stage presence, vivid storytelling, and the striking power of her voice—often described as rich, warm, and expressive. Her passion for music and unwavering dedication to her craft continue to drive her forward. With the guidance of exceptional mentors and the wealth of opportunities at Guildhall, Sinéad is poised to make a lasting mark on the classical music world and to establish herself as one of the notable Irish voices of her generation.
Laura McLaughlin, originally from Tipperary, has played piano since she was eight years old. She graduated with First Class Honours Bachelor of Music degree from MTU Cork School of Music in 2022. Laura is currently in her second year of the Performance Masters in MTU Cork School of Music, studying with Michael Joyce and Michael McHale. Her degree is specialising in piano accompaniment and has accompanied many groups and students. She plays the violin and recently performed in the IAYO Festival Orchestra and the Esker Festival Orchestra. Laura has received a masterclass from Barry Douglas and accompanied a masterclass with Brendan Collins. She also teaches and is interested in music pedagogies. Laura won ‘Best Dissertation 2022’ for researching into music aptitude in childhood. This year Laura studied four hand piano works and she had the opportunity to perform Declan Townshend's four-hand piece ‘Etretat’ for an awards ceremony held in 2023.
Alfie Kennedy is from the Hook Peninsula, Co. Wexford. He began learning piano at seven, originally focusing on classical music, but as time went on, found his interest gradually spreading to pop and jazz. Beginning his studies in the Cork School of Music in 2018, he performed with the school's jazz big band along with studying classical with Gabriela Mayer & jazz with Cormac McCarthy & Scott Flanagan. Outside of college Alfie picked up any performance work he could find. Playing with wedding bands, cover bands, at jazz jam sessions, bars, restaurants & hotels, he continued getting as much experience as possible. After completing his BMUs in 2022, he began working with the City of Cork Male Voice Choir as their accompanist and assistant musical director. He also started teaching piano in Gaelscoil Ui Drisceoil, Glanmire, and is the main keyboard player with the wedding band "The Offbeats". In 2023 he began his MA in performance in CSM, continuing his dual focus on jazz and classical. Recently he performed in the St. Barrahane's Church Festival of Music 2024 with Michael Mattioli & Susan Nares, and the New Ross Musical Society's 2025 performance of Beauty and The Beast.
An alumnus of the Wexford Festival Opera Factory and the Irish National Opera Studio, Rory Dunne studied acting with the Bull Alley Theatre Training Company before completing his degree in TU Dublin. He has been awarded bursaries and awards from The Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Feis Ceoil & Navan Choral Festival. Past roles include Papageno Die Zauberflöte (Cork), Capellio I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Wexford), Gugliemlo Cosi fan tutte (Vienna), Falstaff Falstaff (Wexford), Colline La Boheme (NCH, Dublin), Germont La Traviata (Vienna), The Mikado The Mikado (Cork).
Orlaith Sharkey, a Donegal native, is currently pursuing a Master’s in Music degree at the MTU Cork School of Music, studying under Ciara Moroney. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance (honours) from TU Dublin Conservatoire. Orlaith enjoys a varied career as a collaborative pianist and choral accompanist, regularly performing in venues all over Dublin. In August 2024, Orlaith was selected to be the piano intern for the Glenarm Festival of Voice and the Charles Wood Festival of Voice. Orlaith works as a ballet accompanist for the Nadia Quick School of Dance and as a piano teacher at the Rathdown School of Music.
Cork PianoFest 2025 Recital Series at Triskel in association with MTU Cork School of Music “Following on from last year’s Cork PianoFest, we are delighted to present another three-concert series at Triskel as part of the 2025 festival with performances from students and lecturers from MTU Cork School of Music, including our first collaborative concert with singers and a special focus on the music of Maurice Ravel to mark his 150th anniversary this year.” Michael McHale & Gabriela Mayer
