Meet The Team

Kevin is an acclaimed ensemble and solo percussionist with experience in classical, band and stage performances. In recent years he has begun the transition to conducting. A collaborative and creative person, Kevin enjoys leading the music making process in an enjoyable yet challenging way.

Kevin began his musical journey as a child studying percussion under the guidance of the late Monica Bonnie in TU Dublin. After school, he undertook a Bachelors of Music in UCD, where he attained orchestral scholarships. Kevin completed a Masters in Percussion Performance in Cork School of Music in 2015, followed by a Masters in Conducting in TU Dublin in 2020, under the tutelage of David Brophy. In 2012 Kevin was appointed as a percussionist in the Defence Forces School of Music where he currently holds the rank of Corporal in the Army No. 1 Band. As a freelance percussionist Kevin frequently performs with ensembles such as RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, Irish National Opera, Dublin Concert Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra.

Kevin has had the opportunity to conduct numerous ensembles including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Army No. 1 Band, Lourdes Brass Band, Gonzaga College Orchestra and the TU Dublin Senior Wind Ensemble. Since taking on the role of Conductor with St. James’ Brass and Reed Band in 2022, Kevin has had the pleasure of leading the band in many performances, with highlights including Áras an Uachtaráin and Farmleigh House.

Cillian O’Breacháin holds a Masters in Music Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he studied violin under the tutelage of Chris George. He has also studied Baroque violin with Huw Daniel, traditional fiddle with Alisdair McCullough and conducting with Alasdair Mitchell. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music Education, majoring in violin performance under the tuition of Maeve Broderick.

As an orchestral violinist, Cillian has performed and recorded with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and with Camerata Ireland with whom he has toured Spain, France, Finland, South America, China and India. Cillian has also performed with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Irish National Opera, Scottish Opera and with Wexford Festival Opera where in 2018 he was awarded the Liam Healy Bursary.

Cillian is a faculty member at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. As a conductor, he has performed in concerts with Trinity Orchestra, Kirkos Ensemble, Offbeat Ensemble, Co-Orch, Wexford Gateway Orchestra, St. Agnes’ Late Starters Orchestra, DYO Concert Orchestra, the RIAM Chamber Orchestra and Dublin Orchestral Players. Cillian has also conducted the Orchestra of the Irish National Youth Ballet between 2014 and 2018. He is currently conductor of the DYO Intermediate Orchestra, St. Agnes’ Chamber Orchestra, Greystones Symphony Orchestra and the RIAM Junior and Divertimenti String Orchestras.

Orla is a lecturer in violin at the TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music and Drama. An experienced performer and pedagogue, she has a strong passion for aiding the development of young string players through their ensemble playing. Drawing from her own experience, Orla seeks to give young string players the best possible introduction to ensemble playing, focusing on producing a good string sound and team work within their ensemble.

Orla has performed with the New Irish Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Cecelia, the National Symphony Orchestra, and in chamber music projects with colleagues in TU Dublin Conservatoire. As a teacher, Orla has directed Prelude Strings and Sinfonietta in TU Dublin for a number of years. She began working with DYO Junior Strings  in 2024 and she forward to working with the young string players and encouraging them to explore and develop their ensemble skills.

Jim is a father of five, three of whom have been very active members of several DYO Orchestras, including a co-leader of the Symphony Orchestra. He has been a partner in KPMG for over 20 years and is an experienced board member having been, among other things, a Board member of the Gate Theatre for over seven years. As the only non-musician in his home, Jim uses his experience as both a non-exec director and a chartered accountant to assist the board of the DYO.

Ciarán is Associate Professor of Orchestral Conducting in UCD, where he was Head of the School of Music from 2018 to 2023. He has been Artistic Director of the UCD Symphony Orchestra since its foundation in 2002, directing over 50 performances, including concerts in Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, and the UK. Ciarán has conducted concerts with orchestras in Ireland and abroad, including Baden Sinfonietta, Dublin Baroque Players, Hibernian Orchestra, RIAM Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Royal Academic Orchestra, and Symphony New Hampshire. He is co-editor—with Dr Róisín Blunnie from DCU—of Perspectives in Conducting, published in 2024 by Routledge.

James is originally from Dublin. He works as a post primary teacher in a Community school in Co. Meath teaching Maths and Physics. He has a keen interest in classical music. He has supported the Intermediate Orchestra team and managed the Symphony Orchestra. James has been a member of the Board since 2017. He has travelled on many tours with the DYO. He lives in Co. Meath with his wife and daughter who is a violinist and former DYO member.

Eimear Lacey is a former member of DYO and now the parent of a young person in the orchestra. As a social worker, with over 20 years’ experience in the area of child protection and welfare she continues to work in front line services as both a manager and directly with children and their families/carers. Eimear is also involved in conducting research and service development.  She has long standing working relationships and experience across statutory, public and non-government sector. Her experience in leadership and service delivery brings a clear focus on governance issues to her involvement in DYO.

Bio

Martina Rosaria O’Connell is an Irish Italian flautist and music educator.  She holds a Master's in Flute Performance and a First Class Honours Degree in Music Education from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College Dublin. Martina has refined her skills through various prestigious training programs, including the Camerata Ireland Academy, Galway Flute Academy, and the Saline Royale Academy in France, where she was awarded a scholarship by RIAM. In addition to her performance career, Martina is deeply committed to music education. She is the Head of Education at the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival and has recently taken on the role of Assistant Orchestra Manager with the Irish Baroque Orchestra.

Before assuming the challenging and busy role of mother to 4 lively children, Deirdre worked in the areas of engineering, management consultancy and telecommunications in business support, process development, training and general management. She has a BA Hons in French, Spanish & Portuguese from Trinity College Dublin. She now works with her husband running a family business where she looks after the accounts, payroll, marketing and human resources of their small company. Deirdre was a founding member of the Kildare branch of the National Parents’ Council Primary and represented Ireland as a delegate at the European Parents Association in Prague in 2015. In July 2019 she was nominated by the NPC Primary to the board of Kildare Wicklow Education & Training Board where she serves currently.

Malachy is a professional chamber musician, playing double-bass and viola da gamba. He is a founder of the Gregory Walkers, a group performing “Early Music from Ireland and beyond”, and is director of the Robinson Panoramic Quartet, a revelatory alternative to the standard string quartet. Principal double-bass with the Irish Chamber Orchestra since 1995, he is also a founder member of Crash Ensemble and of the Irish Baroque Orchestra. Malachy’s compositions include String performed by Crash Ensemble 2001 and Dream of the Green Men performed by the Irish Chamber Orchestra 2018. He has also written countless songs.

The enthusiastic and heart-warming exclamation of Philine’s first-born daughter after her first ever rehearsal with DYO Junior Strings many years ago will be forever on her mind. “Mum, you won’t believe what kind of sound we can make together. It is absolutely incredible!” This was what she had always hoped for as a mother: that her children would grow up to love music and become as passionate about the spell-binding act of making music together as she is. Philine moved from Germany to Ireland in 2002, when her husband Jan joined the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission, and she has been a G.P. in Trim, County Meath since then.