Niall Kinsella

Bursary Concert Accompanist 

Pianist and conductor Niall Kinsella has established himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting, versatile and sought-after musicians. He has been described as “a meticulous collaborator” (BBC Music Magazine) and “a first-class calling card as a knowledgeable and profound song accompanist” (Merker, Austria). He has performed as a song-accompanist extensively across Europe, in Austria, France, Spain, Hungary, Czech-Republic, Italy and United Kingdom, in venues such as Wiener Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, Mozarthaus Wien, The Liszt Academy, Budapest, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and National Concert Hall, Dublin. 

As a conductor, he was appointed as RTÉ Conductor-in-Training 2014-15 and has conducted several major choral works including Handel Messiah, Mozart C Minor Mass, Haydn Stabat Mater, Duruflé Reqiuem, Orff Carmina Burana. Niall made his debut conducting the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in September 2023 in a sold-out concert of Rodgers & Hammerstein, which was also broadcast on RTÉ lyric fm.  
 
Niall’s debut CD John F. Larchet: Complete Songs & Airs was released internationally on Champs Hill Records (UK) in 2020 and was described as “a long overdue recording given John F. Larchet’s remarkable contribution to musical life in Ireland” (John Bowman, RTÉ Radio One) and that “it is hard to imagine [Larchet’s] complete vocal output being given a better representation than it receives here” (Journal of Music). His second CD, Schubert’s Women, for Austrian label Gramola Klassik was released in 2021, with critics praising the “polished music-making of fine repertoire” (BBC Music Magazine) and remarking that “Kinsella’s perspective is so fresh and fruitful” (The Whole Note, Canada). Niall is Artistic Director of Irish Songmakers, and has also curated a recital series at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London.  

Niall studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, furthering his postgraduate studies in lieder accompaniment and chamber music at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, with Professor Barbara Moser. He completed his studies in Lieder accompaniment at the Franz-Schubert-Institut, in Baden-be-Wien, Austria, and at the International Summer Academy of the Mozarteum University, Salzburg. 

Join us at the Vernon Studio, RIAM on Saturday the 10th October to see Niall Kinsella perform piano accompaniment for our four bursary award recipients. FREE ADMISSION.

Book here

Nicholas O’Neill

2025 Bursary Recipient

Nick O’Neill, 21, is a young baritone from Dublin who is studying singing, most recently with the late Mary Brennan. 

He is this year’s winner of the Baritone Solo competition in the Feis Ceoil, where he has received numerous awards and silverware over the years, including runner-up in the John McCormack Cup (2024); winner of the Paul Deegan cup (2023); and the Junior Vocal Recital (2022), after which he was invited to perform at the Feis Ceoil Young Platform Series. He also received the Rose Bowl award in 2018, having won the Reverend Ambrose C. Benson Memorial Cup. 

He is a seasoned performer, singing in various operatic productions through the years. He has toured Ireland with INO’s production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflote (2019), and has also performed abroad with companies such as the Yorke Trust, playing the title role in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and featuring in Britten’s The Tempest and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. 

Aside from his solo performing, Nick has been singing in choirs since the age of 5, progressing with Dublin Choral Foundation. Currently he holds a choral scholarship with the Trinity College Dublin Chapel Choir, where he has been both librarian and secretary. In 2024, he was selected to participate in Sestina Music’s Next Generation mentorship program, culminating in the performance ‘In Praise of St. Cecilia’, singing Baroque choral works across the country. Other choral performances include singing with Lassus, Peregryne, and regular performances with the choirs of St. Patrick’s and Christchurch Cathedrals. 

Nick is also an accomplished cellist and pianist, having studied for many years in the TU Dublin Conservatoire, winning awards for both along the way. He is currently in his final year of a Pure Mathematics degree at Trinity College Dublin.

Book your tickets for the Bursary Concert taking place on the 11th October 2025 here.

Sinéad Cosgrove

2025 Bursary Recipient

Sinéad Cosgrove is from Dunleer, Co.Louth. She started singing lessons when she was 8 with Geraldine McGee in Dundalk and then in 2017 studied under Ronnie Dunne until her passing. 

She currently works full time in Finance and is a part time student under Imelda Drumm. She has sung in choirs from when she was young, but after she finished secondary school she sang in Cór Fingal under Eoin Conway, the Irish Youth Choir under Bernie Sherlock and now she sings in Lassus Scholars under Ite O’Donovan. 

She went to Rome with Lassus Scholars this year and sang in many Basilicas including Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. She has sung many solos as part of Lassus as well as the Irish Youth Choir including when they were invited to the Youth Choral Festival in Switzerland. 

Last year was her first time competing in the Soprano solo Feis competition for which she received a Commended and which was surpassed this year by a 2nd place medal competing in the Margaret Burke Sheridan Cup. 

Book your tickets for the Bursary Concert taking place on the 11th October 2025 here.

David Conroy

2025 Bursary Recipient

David Conroy is a young Irish bass with a powerful, resonant voice and a compelling stage presence. He initially trained in drama, earning a BA in Drama Performance from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, where he was introduced to operatic singing by Dr. Robert Alderson. After a period working in Canada, he returned to Ireland and established himself as a freelance media producer while completing an MA in Broadcast Production at IADT.

In 2022, David resumed his vocal studies under the esteemed Professor Mary Brennan of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, training with her until her passing in January 2025. He now continues his development with Dr. Gavan Ring, focusing on refining his vocal technique and deepening his artistry as a low bass.

David has performed with the Irish National Opera as a chorus member in William Tell and with Lyric Opera Productions. He also appeared in Lurline with Heritage Productions and the National Symphony Orchestra (2024) and made his solo concert debut alongside Patrick Hyland and Ava Dodd in December 2024. 

A 2nd prizewinner in the John McCormack Competition at the Feis Ceoil and a 1st prizewinner in the bass solo category, he continues to establish himself as a rising talent in the operatic world.

Book your tickets for the Bursary Concert taking place on the 11th October 2025 here.

Cliodhna Regan

2025 Bursary Recipient


Clíodhna Regan is a 22 year old soprano from Co. Meath. She has just completed her undergraduate degree in Music Performance in TU Dublin Conservatoire, under the tutelage of Mairead Buicke and Aoife O’Sullivan. She is a multi prize winner at Feis Ceoil and TU Dublin conservatoire, and was most recently awarded a bursary at the Derry Feis and first prize in the Soprano solo at the 2025 Feis Ceoil.

In 2025 Clíodhna made two operatic role debuts with Opera in the Open, in the role of Frasquita (Bizet Carmen) and Despina (Mozart Cosi Fan Tutte). Performing the role of Frasquita again with Loughcrew Estate Opera 2025. She also performed the Soprano Solo in Handel’s Messiah with TU Dublin Choral Society in Dublin and Armagh. As a chorus member, she has performed in the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival 2023 and 2022. Future engagements include ‘Yet Another Lunchtime at the Opera’ in November 2025 for Sheldon Nulty Music in the National Concert Hall. 

Book your tickets for the Bursary Concert taking place on the 11th October 2025 here.

John McCormack Bursary Concert 2025

Come join us for a night of musical talent at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Witness the next generation of performers showcase their wonderful talents. It’s a night filled with performances of opera, classical repertoire, ballads, beautiful melodies and a guest performer. Don’t miss out on this special event celebrating the legacy of John McCormack!

Register for your FREE TICKETS here.

Bursary Recipients:

Cliodhna Regan (soprano)

David Conroy (bass)

Sineád Cosgrove (soprano)

Nicholas O’Neill (baritone)

Niall Kinsella, pianist and conductor will provide the accompaniment.

Music to Inspire and Soothe

David Clarke returns once more to deliver what promises to be another unforgettable journey through the world of singing.

Claudio Muzio performs ‘O mio babbino caro’

“Music to Inspire and Soothe” celebrates the timeless power of the human voice through performances by some of the world’s most cherished singers. From the golden warmth of John McCormack and the haunting beauty of Renata Tebaldi and Magda Olivero, to the passionate artistry of Gigli, Muzio, and Anna Moffo, the program highlights the emotional depth and variety of operatic expression. Legendary voices such as Feodor Chaliapin, Renata Scotto, Mario Del Monaco, and Alfredo Kraus stand alongside the lyrical charm of Nelson Eddy, Vincent Sardinero, and Joseph Schmidt, while the brilliance of modern stars like Jonathan Tetelman and Juan Diego Flórez shows how this tradition continues to thrive. Together, these artists offer a journey through music that uplifts, comforts, and inspires.

The talk will be held on the 13th September at 11am in Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, Dublin. We look forward to welcoming Society members and newcomers.

Autumn Season

John McCormack being interviewed on a trans-atlantic liner about his new film ‘Song O’ My Heart’

1. Autumn Talks

The dates for our talks are as follows:

DateTimePresenterTitle
13th September11amDavid ClarkeMusic to Inspire and Soothe
8th November11amGordon LedbetterHumour in the History of Sound Recording
6th December11amPat O’ReillyJohn McCormack sings songs of Poets and Composers 

As you’ll have noticed, we’re only hosting three talks this autumn as our Annual Bursary Concert takes place on the 11th October.

The venue for our talks continues to be Buswells Hotel. 

An admittance charge of €5 will continue to cover venue hire and refreshments. 

2. Bursary Concert 

This year’s concert will return to the Royal Irish Academy of Music (Westland Row, Dublin 2). It will be held in the Vernon Studio this year. The venue has a capacity of 120. We will make a limited number of tickets available to the public through Eventbrite.

Doors will open at 6.00pm on Saturday the 11th October and the concert will commence at 6.30pm. Further details on award recipients will be shared closer to the event. 

Niall Kinsella has been booked once more to provide the piano accompaniment.  

All our members are welcome to attend this free concert and to bring one guest. We would appreciate if you would let us know by Friday 3rd October if you will attend and if bringing a guest. RSVP – contact@johnmccormacksociety.ie

If you wish to bring an extra guest/guests then please check with us after this date when any spare seats will be allocated on a first come basis.

Arias and Romanzes from Russia and Eastern Europe

From the Golden Age to the Present Day

The final talk of our Spring season takes place on Saturday 10th May in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, from 11am onwards. Arrive early for some tea/coffee and conversation.

David Clarke

This recital is being delivered by David Clarke, our Vice-Chairperson. It promises to be a captivating journey through the vocal treasures of Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe. Spanning from the 1890s to today, the program presents rare and beloved arias and romanzes interpreted by legendary singers whose artistry defined generations.

Voices featured include:

Feodor Chaliapin, Leonid Sobinov, Gohar Gasparyan, Irina Arkhipova, Georgi Nelepp, Ivan Migai, Antonia Nezhanova, Sergei Lemeshev, Ivan Kozlovsky, Pabel Lisitsian, Virginia Zeani, and Nicolare Herlea.

The not very Eastern European singer, John McCormack, will makes an appearance too, singing in Russian repertoire, including moving interpretations of romances by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, illustrating the wide reach and enduring power of these composers and the Irish tenor’s versatility.

From the soul-stirring gravitas of Chaliapin to the lyric elegance of Kozlovsky and Lemeshev, this playlist brings together voices and compositions that defined an era — celebrating over a century of emotive, passionate singing.

Then and Now

Our next talk on the 12th of April will be delivered by Gordon Ledbetter, the award winning broadcaster and author of two critically acclaimed biographies on John McCormack. The talk will commence at 11am.

His talk ‘Then and Now‘ refers to the period of singers captured by the talking machine from roughly the end of the nineteenth century up to the present day.    It will explore how singing has changed, in some respects quite radically, over the years as the history of sound recording amply demonstrates.

The talk looks to present reasons as to why this is the case.  Gordon has always had a predilection for the singers recorded in the era of the acoustic gramophone.  The illustrated examples point up what we may have lost in regard to the earliest singers and perhaps more recent singers show that there have been gains too.

Gordon Ledbetter, broadcaster and author of two John McCormack biographies