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Festival Artists

Ancór Choir
Ancór was founded in 2005 by conductor Cecilia Madden and so this year marks their 20th anniversary! The choir consists of approximately 30 members from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities but who all love to sing together. Ancór embraces a wide range of sacred and secular repertoire from the Renaissance to the 21st century and over the years they have collaborated with several ensembles and well-known vocal soloists including UL Orchestra, Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, Limerick City Big Band and Limerick Sinfonia. Recent concert tours have included Sardinia (2024), Féile na Bealtaine in Dingle, Co Kerry (2019), Slovenia (2017), Italy (2014) and France (2012). In 2015, Ancór launched a 10th anniversary recording Sing Joyfully and they will be recording a Christmas album to celebrate their 20th anniversary and this will be available in Autumn 2025. As Choir-in-Residence at Limerick School of Music, Ancór is now mentoring the choral students at LSOM and we are delighted to have them perform with us here this evening. Ancór has performed many works by JS Bach, and the choir has become an annual fixture on the LEMF calendar with a focus on the sacred cantatas of JS Bach and the sacred music lineage before and after, all in partnership with local, national and international musical partners. On 12th April next, Ancór and LSOM Senior Choir will appear with Limerick Choral Union in UCH at their Easter concert.

Paolo Alonso
Paulo Alonso (LEMFCO viola) began his studies within the Sonidos de la Tierra project in his hometown Acahay in 2005. He continued his studies at the Faculty of Music of the National University of Asunción with professors Gerardo Gramajo, Gustavo Barrientos, and Alan Kovacs, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree. He participated in the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan (2023) where he took classes in chamber music, viola, and orchestral repertoire with musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and other leading North American Orchestras. At that time, he served as principal viola in one of the projects, under the conductor Thomas Dausgard. In the field of chamber music, he is a national award-winner. With the Hyapu Quartet and the Asunción Trio, he won first prize in the 1st and 2nd Lorenzo N. Livieres Banks National Chamber Music Competitions. He also spends his time as principal viola player with the National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay and as viola professor at the Faculty of Music of the National University of Asunción. Paulo Alonso is currently pursuing a master's degree in performance at the University of Limerick in Ireland. This course is jointly operated by the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

Anna Banko Szumacher
Anna Banko Szumacher is a Krakow-born musician who has made Limerick her home since 2004. A graduate of the prestigious Secondary Music School in Krakow, she is a skilled violinist, pianist, composer, and singer. She holds a Certificate in Music and Dance and a BA in Voice with First Class Honors from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, where she is now completing a Master’s in Community Music. Anna is the founder and conductor of the Cantate Deo Choir, which won first prize at the Limerick Choir Festival in 2017. She curates a diverse repertoire in Latin, Polish, and English, reflecting her multicultural approach. Deeply committed to community music, Anna treats her work as a mission to make music accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. She believes everyone can do music and prioritises working with and for people. As a music educator and director, she has led numerous productions and workshops, including at Saint Anne’s Community College and the PAF project “In Search of Identity.” She regularly performs at the Polish Arts Festival and composes music for a wide range of events, guided by her belief in the transformative power of music.

Peter Barley
Peter Barley is Organist and Choirmaster of Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick. He is also on staff at Limerick School of Music, where he teaches piano and organ and is a staff accompanist. Peter was previously Organist at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, from where he holds the title of Organist Emeritus. Peter began his career in London, where he was Director of Music at St Marylebone Church, as well as regularly accompanying the Corydon Singers, the London Concert Choir, and Canticum. The foundations for his interest in choral, organ and sacred music were laid through studies at King’s College, Cambridge (where he was an organ scholar) and at the Royal Academy of Music, London. As an organist, Peter has performed at many UK venues, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and Bridgewater Hall. He has also played at most of the main Irish recital venues, and in all the regular ‘noon-hour’ organ recital series in Toronto, Canada. A former Director of the Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy, Peter also spent six years as Chair of RSCM Ireland. He is now closely involved in the Limerick Pipe Organ Festival. He directs the choirs of Sagittarius Hiberniensis and Saint Mary’s Cathedral.

Leila Clarke-Carr
Leila Clarke-Carr is a Limerick based violinist from County Meath. She recently completed the Masters in Classical String Performance under the mentorship of the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the University of Limerick. She primarily plays on modern violin in various styles and ensembles, and she also enjoys playing on Baroque violin. During her undergraduate studies in the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin she played in many side by side projects with members of the Irish Baroque Orchestra. Leila also had the opportunity to perform in RIAM Opera productions including the premier of Stephen McNeff’s opera ‘Banished’ in 2018. She has also performed with the Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra on multiple occasions, including a performance in Croatia in September 2022 as part of a Baroque Music Festival in Varzdin. Leila has also competed and has been placed in national competitions such as the Feis Ceoil, New Park Music Festival and more recently the semi-final of the Freemasons Young Musician of the Year 2023. In March 2024 Leila also explored playing the vielle as part of the Limerick Early Music Festival, and in June she performed in a recital with Yonit Kosovske as part of the Galway Early Music Festival. As well as Leila’s love of music, she was raised in a very creative household with her mother being an artist and her father working in creative media. She is most interested in creating visual art based on her experience as a violinist. Her belief is that both music and visual art are connected, so as part of her final year dissertation in Dublin, she visually transcribed Bach’s Fugue in G minor to explore her interpretation of the piece. She feels that this method helps her connect with the music and her audience on multiple levels. Leila is currently pursuing a second masters degree at the University of Limerick on the MA Composition in Creative Music Practice.

Mary Collins
Mary Collins is a historical dance specialist whose research and teaching approach has inspired musicians to look afresh at the dance music, which is at the heart of the Renaissance and Baroque repertoire bringing, in turn, a fresh perspective on the great composers of the Baroque era. Reviving original choreography and gesture for historical performance, Mary promotes a vibrant, multi-disciplinary approach to music making, valued by artists and audiences alike. A practitioner and researcher, she performs regularly with the London Handel Players and Florilegium, giving master classes, lecture-recitals and workshops to dancers and musicians throughout the world.

Mark Cooney
Mark Cooney is an oboist, plays cor anglais, and is a traditional Irish instrumentalist from Detroit, Michigan (USA).
Mr. Cooney received his BA in oboe performance from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, as
well participated in their Orchestral Studies post graduate programme. He is a recipient of the Evangeline Dumesnil scholarship, the Harry Begian Award in Musical Excellence, Star of Delta Omicron Music fraternity,
and has performed with various ensembles in the Detroit area including The Michigan Philharmonic,
International Symphony of Sarnia, Detroit Civic Symphony, Ann Arbor Chamber Players, and the Detroit Camerata, as well as having participated in the American Youth International Orchestra where he toured Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands with one of America’s leading young persons orchestra. Mr. Cooney also earned a Master’s Degree in Irish Music Studies from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance where he graduated with honours. Currently living in Limerick, Mr. Cooney has performed in many ensembles in Ireland, such as the Limerick Early Music Festival Orchestra, Limerick Philharmonic Orchestra, Limerick Choral Union Orchestra, Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra, University of Limerick Orchestra, the Adult Irish Youth Orchestra, the Esker Festival Orchestra, Wexford Sinfonia, and the
Hibernian Orchestra of Dublin. He was also invited to give an oboe masterclass at the Limerick School of
Music. His primary teachers on the oboe and cor anglais were Brian Ventura (Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Dr. Eldonna May, Stephanie Shapiro (Wayne State University), and Timothy Michling (Ann Arbor Symphony).
Mr. Cooney received his BA in oboe performance from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, as
well participated in their Orchestral Studies post graduate programme. He is a recipient of the Evangeline Dumesnil scholarship, the Harry Begian Award in Musical Excellence, Star of Delta Omicron Music fraternity,
and has performed with various ensembles in the Detroit area including The Michigan Philharmonic,
International Symphony of Sarnia, Detroit Civic Symphony, Ann Arbor Chamber Players, and the Detroit Camerata, as well as having participated in the American Youth International Orchestra where he toured Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands with one of America’s leading young persons orchestra. Mr. Cooney also earned a Master’s Degree in Irish Music Studies from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance where he graduated with honours. Currently living in Limerick, Mr. Cooney has performed in many ensembles in Ireland, such as the Limerick Early Music Festival Orchestra, Limerick Philharmonic Orchestra, Limerick Choral Union Orchestra, Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra, University of Limerick Orchestra, the Adult Irish Youth Orchestra, the Esker Festival Orchestra, Wexford Sinfonia, and the
Hibernian Orchestra of Dublin. He was also invited to give an oboe masterclass at the Limerick School of
Music. His primary teachers on the oboe and cor anglais were Brian Ventura (Detroit Symphony Orchestra), Dr. Eldonna May, Stephanie Shapiro (Wayne State University), and Timothy Michling (Ann Arbor Symphony).

Leonie Curtin
Originally from Cork, Leonie Curtin graduated from the Guildhall School of Music London in 1998 and completed a Masters Degree in Performance at the University of Illinois in the USA in 2000. On returning to Ireland Leonie took up a teaching position at the Royal Irish Academy of Music where she taught for eight years. She was also the Director of Junior Strings from 2001-2004. Leonie has played regularly with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Ulster Orchestra, Opera Theatre Company, Crash Ensemble and VOX21. She, with cellist Kate Ellis, also set up the Bridgewood Ensemble, a New Music group, which performed in countries including America and South Africa. Leonie moved to London in 2004. While there, as well as teaching at Junior Guildhall from 2005 to 2011, Leonie concentrated on Early Music. She now performs with groups such as the Irish Baroque Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, La Serenissima, the New London Consort, the Gabrieli Consort, the Dunedin Ensemble and Classical Opera Company. Leonie returned to live in Cork in 2020.

Justyna Cwojdzińska
Justyna Cwojdzińska is a multidisciplinary artist and performer with a deep passion for the transformative power of masks. She was awarded the YPCE Bursary Award to support her research into the history and ritual use of masks, with a focus on Slavic and Celtic traditions. Her training includes work with internationally renowned practitioners Ollie Crick, Simon Thompson, Russell Dean of Strange Face, specialising in physical theatre and the expressive potential of mask work. Over the years, Justyna has developed and led numerous creative projects where masks serve as powerful tools for self-exploration, healing, and storytelling. She believes in the mask’s ability to open hidden parts of ourselves, to navigate trauma, and to invite playful discovery of new identities. In her recent work with Mother Tongues Ireland, Justyna guided young participants in creating their own masks, leading to a magical performance where the children took to the stage, embodying their creations and becoming active storytellers. The project celebrated the empowering role of masks in giving voice to inner worlds and fostering deep, meaningful participation. Through her workshops and performances, Justyna invites people of all ages to step into the ancient, universal magic of the mask — to transform, to express, and to reconnect with the primal art of being seen and unseen.

Dylan Donegan
Hailing from Co. Donegal, Ireland, Dylan Donegan is a London based harpsichordist. Dylan’s journey as a harpsichordist began with undertaking harpsichord lessons under Rachel Factor at TU Dublin Conservatoire, where he completed his BMus(Performance) and a Postgraduate Diploma (Performance). Following these degrees, Dylan’s harpsichord studies brought him to the Royal Academy of Music, London for a Master’s in Historical Performance. Here, Dylan studied harpsichord, clavichord, and fortepiano with Carole Cerasi and continuo with James Johnstone. Dylan has performed in numerous venues in Ireland and London. Some of his recent performances include a concert as part of London Handel Festival with Baroque violinist Rachel Podger for Handel House and claiming first prize at the Nancy Nuttall Early Music Competition 2025 at the Royal Academy of Music. He also has been part of a recording project for a 2025 RTÉ Lyric Feature titled ‘Black Syren’ which tells the story of Black Irish Soprano Rachel Baptiste. Dylan is currently preparing to begin a PhD focusing on the performance of the music of Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart on harpsichord.

Emma English
Emma English began her musical education in C.J. Kickham Brass Band, Tipperary, where her chosen instrument was trumpet. She began her vocal training under Sr. Peter Cronin at NUI Maynooth while pursuing an Honours B.Mus. degree, with which she was conferred in 1997. Emma received a Graduate Diploma in Music Technology from DIT Conservatory of Music in 1998 and was awarded a Fellowship in Classical Vocal recital by London College of music in 2008. She has studied extensively under Ms. Marie Walshe, Cratloe, Co. Clare, and has taken masterclasses with Ms. Barbara Bonney, Professor of Vocal Studies, Mozarteum, Salzburg. Emma's performance repertoire includes a diverse catalogue of work, including opera, operetta, sacred music, oratorio, musical theatre, lieder, chanson, and English art song. She has performed in all these genres and has been a featured soloist on RTE radio and television, which is the national broadcaster of Ireland. She has previously travelled on concert tours to Slovenia, Italy, Sardinia and Istanbul. Emma is a key figure in the vocal department of Limerick School of Music, where she has taught for over 20 years. She has used her own performance experience and wealth of knowledge to train hundreds of students in this time, all of whom have gained qualifications from the ABRSM. She teaches from eight years old to adults, from beginners to professional qualifications. She has recently directed and produced a contemporary opera for the school. Emma also teaches vocal technique to the Monks of Glenstal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in County Limerick.

Elaine Funaro
Elaine Funaro is regarded as one of the leading performers of new music for harpsichord. She is a popular presence at contemporary and early music festivals around the world, and was the first, now past, president of the Historical Keyboard Society of North America, and was for many years, until her retirement, the Artistic Director of Aliénor, the American-based international competition for new harpsichord music. Ms. Funaro’s foundation in the classics fully supports her passion for contemporary compositions, expanding her repertoire to five centuries of harpsichord music. She has introduced audiences on five continents to the new world of modern compositions, many of which have been Aliénor winners, having premiered works in London, Amsterdam, Rome, Sydney, Boston, Tallinn, Hong Kong and Tokyo. In addition to her solo recitals at the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress and in other notable venues, she has been a frequent collaborator with symphonies and chamber ensembles. Her appearances often present modern compositions in the context of old and new musical traditions from around the world, yet her impassioned solo and chamber interpretations of traditional scores for her instrument remain a core element in an exceptionally active career. Ms. Funaro has recorded for Arabesque, Centaur, Gasparo, Wildboar, and Classic Concert. She performs on a custom-made contemporary harpsichord, the Kingston Opus #333, which is decorated throughout by original artwork from North Carolina artist Lisa Creed.

Sarah Groser
Sarah Groser first played the viola da gamba as a child, encouraged by her viol-playing father, whilst waiting to start on the cello. She concentrated on the cello until her late teens when she heard viols playing in consort and was captivated by the sound. At Manchester University she was able to study both Baroque cello and viol with Charles Medlam of London Baroque and continued on to Rotterdams Conservatorium to study Baroque cello with Jaap ter Linden. Later she had lessons with Jordi Savall as an external student at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Since her studies, Sarah has concentrated on the viol, and more recently the violone. She was a member of the Rose Consort of Viols for fifteen years and of Sonnerie under Monica Huggett for three years. She has also played with London Baroque, Fretwork, Charivari Agréable, and the Dowland Consort. In 2001 Sarah moved from England to West Cork, Ireland, where she is in frequent demand as both a solo bass viol player and as a continuo player. In Ireland, she has collaborated with The Irish Baroque Orchestra, the IBO Concert Soloists, Sestina, Camerata Kilkenny, Morisca, The Orchestra of St Cecilia, Madrigal 75, and as a duo with Sarah Cunningham. She performs regularly with Yonit Kosovske on repertoire spanning the early Baroque through Contemporary.

Ian Harrison
Ian Harrison brings to the shawm, cornett, and historical bagpipes the passion of the folk music of his native Northumbria, combined with an intense study and knowledge of historical sources and playing techniques. His improvisational and virtuosic style have charmed audiences throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. The international press has hailed his playing as "ecstatic" and "otherworldly"‚ and him as "The Miles Davis of Early Music". From 1993–2021 he was co-director of Ensemble Les haulz et les bas, and now directs the Ensemble Inventio. He teaches shawms and medieval music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and historical improvisation at the Musikhochschule Frankfurt.

Poul Høxbro
Poul Høxbro has taken the medieval instrument of pipe-&-tabor out of the shadows and into the full glare of concert platforms all over the world. He has created and led several projects with the Danish Baroque Orchestra and Concerto Copenhagen, and he guest teaches at Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. He was a music consultant for the Robert Eggers movie "The Northman" (Universal Pictures, 2022) and played all the flute and horn parts for the sound track. In January 2022 he released the album "Borne by the Wind", music for xun solo, thus making this the first introduction in music history of the Chinese xun into western classical music.

Yonit Kosovske
Yonit Kosovske performs as a soloist and collaborative musician on harpsichord, modern piano, fortepiano, and chamber organ. She is dedicated to a diverse body of repertoire spanning 500 years, from the 1500s through contemporary music, and with a particular passion for new music and early instruments. Yonit is Co-producer of the Limerick Early Music Festival, Co-director of H.I.P.S.T.E.R. (Historically Informed Performance Series, Teaching, Education, and Research), and Artistic Director of WAVE~LINKS, a video documentary series exploring connections between music-making and artisanry. She is an Associate Professor in Music at the University of Limerick, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. Yonit holds a Doctor of Music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a Master of Music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Eric Love
Eric Love is a New York City based theatre director specializing in magical plays and epic musicals. From 2016-2022 he served as Director of Education & Associate Artistic Director for Northern Stage, a LORT-D regional theatre in White River Junction, Vermont. While at Northern Stage, Love championed the Youth Ensemble Studio, a troupe of 32 actors from 12-18 years old performing three productions a year. Love was also the Director of Boot Camp, a scholarship pre-college training program for juniors and seniors in high school who are passionate about pursuing a career in the arts. Each year, Love directed legendary Summer Musical Theater Intensives, whose titles include School of Rock, The Drowsy Chaperone, James and the Giant Peach, Urinetown, and Legally Blonde. Love also directed the main stage holiday productions of Matilda and The Railway Children, a world premiere musical which he co-adapted and co-directed with Artistic Director Carol Dunne.

Cecilia Madden
Cecilia Madden first studied music (piano, oboe, recorder and theory) at Limerick School of Music and then continued her studies at Trinity College Dublin where she read for the degrees of B.A. in Music & History and the M. Phil. in Reformation & Enlightenment Studies, while concurrently studying Oboe with Albert Soliveres at the D.I.T. (now T.U. Dublin) Conservatoire of Music. During her time at TCD, Cecilia was awarded the Taylor Exhibition and an Entrance Exhibition and she conducted the Trinity Orchestra and the Trinity Chapel Choir with which she also sang as Choral Scholar. Cecilia’s first professional conducting post was as Director of Music at St Ann’s Church, Dawson St, Dublin. At this time, Cecilia participated in many conducting masterclasses including at Westminster Choir College (Princeton, New Jersey); with the European Academy of Young Choral Conductors (Timmendorf, Germany); at the Civico Liceo Musicale (Verase, Italy) and with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland before taking up a place as a guest student at the Hochschule für Musik (UdK) Berlin.
Cecilia studied Post-Primary teaching at the University of Limerick and was later awarded a Post-Grad. Dip. in Educational Leadership & Management from NUI Maynooth. She taught in the Ursuline School in Waterford and then with Ardscoil Mhuire in Limerick before being appointed to LSOM as Deputy Principal in 2014. As well as her ongoing conducting work with Ancór and the choirs at the Limerick School of Music, she has also recently been a guest conductor with Limerick Sinfonia and Limerick Philharmonic Orchestra. Cecilia is now Principal of LSOM, having been appointed to this role in 2022. She has a particular interest in vocal and instrumental music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods and is delighted to be part of the LEMF festival, both as performer and educational partner.
Cecilia studied Post-Primary teaching at the University of Limerick and was later awarded a Post-Grad. Dip. in Educational Leadership & Management from NUI Maynooth. She taught in the Ursuline School in Waterford and then with Ardscoil Mhuire in Limerick before being appointed to LSOM as Deputy Principal in 2014. As well as her ongoing conducting work with Ancór and the choirs at the Limerick School of Music, she has also recently been a guest conductor with Limerick Sinfonia and Limerick Philharmonic Orchestra. Cecilia is now Principal of LSOM, having been appointed to this role in 2022. She has a particular interest in vocal and instrumental music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods and is delighted to be part of the LEMF festival, both as performer and educational partner.

Billy Mag Fhloinn
Billy Mag Fhloinn is a musician, composer, artist, instrument builder, funeral celebrant, writer, university lecturer. He is a native of Limerick and lives in the heart of Corca Dhuibhne on the Dingle Peninsula in western Ireland. He holds a PhD in Irish Folklore and a B.A. in Archaeology from University College Dublin. He has published a book on Irish Folklore, entitled Blood Rite: The Feast of St. Martin in Ireland. One of his ongoing projects is Pagan Rave, which aims to reimagine folk traditions and calendar customs of Ireland. Using as a starting point the costumed figures of Irish and European folk theatre and seasonal festivals, it seeks to operate at the margins of place and mind, and embody the transformative and liberating aspects of masks and music in a ceremonial context. Pagan Rave forms a symbiotic relationship with its sister project Aeons, the electronica band founded by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh. Pagan Rave also collaborates with musical supergroup Mr Muntz.

Rose Minnema
Rose Minnema is a puppet builder who mainly employs natural materials and recycled fabric, aiming for a natural, simple, organic flow of puppet creations. In the workshops which Rose facilitates, she engages participants as much as possible in all aspects of the puppet-making process and inspires participants—children and adults alike—to use their creativity to the fullest. Puppets are an excellent medium through which to express many ideas and emotions in a wide variety of settings. A longtime supporter and frequent attendee of the Limerick Early Music Festival, Rose is thrilled to bring her talents in puppetmaking to bring to life this unique aspect of an early time period.

Sarah-Ellen Murphy
Contralto Sarah-Ellen Murphy is from Limerick, Ireland. She studied with Jean Holmes in the Limerick School of Music, Olive Cowpar and Owen Gilhooly. She holds a Bachelor of Education Degree with music from Mary Immaculate College. She achieved an honours diploma in singing from the London College of Music and Media. As an oratorio soloist she is much in demand across the country, including performances with Limerick Choral Union, Ancór, Mary Immaculate College Choir, Galway Choral Association, Tipperary Chamber Choir, Kerry Chamber Choir, Carlow Choral Society, West Cork Choral Singers, Sing Ireland and The Fleischmann Choir. She presented many lunchtime recitals in St. Mary’s Cathedral and in Mary Immaculate College. Sarah-Ellen performs with Opera Workshop Limerick. She was part of the cast who devised No 2 Pery Square. Composer Fiona Linnane and writer Mary Coll collaborated on Songs from Kate O’ Brien for Sarah-Ellen. She performed the songs at the Kate O’ Brien Festival in 2025. Sarah-Ellen recorded the album ‘Cantabile’ with pianist Dearbhla Collins. It was made possible through the Individual Artists Bursary Awards scheme run by Limerick City & County Council Arts Department and with the generous support of the University Concert Hall, Limerick.

Steven Player
Steven Player has for the past twenty years studied and performed dances of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. He also plays baroque guitar and studied lute at the Royal College of Music in London. This combination of performing as both dancer and musician has made him popular with leading early music ensembles in Europe, where he works regularly with The Harp Consort, Akademie for Alte Musik Berlin, The Balthasaar Neumann Ensemble and the trio Los Otros. He also performs in the Americas, Australia, and Japan. He has taught dance to music students throughout Europe, choreographed for TV and Opera, and acted and performed Commedia dell’Arte. He has been a favorite with Apollo’s Fire audiences for over 10 years, particularly in the holiday program “Sacrum Mysterium – A Celtic Christmas.” Mr. Player enjoys combining the disciplines of art and historical research, while living in the 21st century.

Wolodymyr Smishkewych
Wolodymyr "Vlad" Smishkewych enjoys a career as a tenor vocalist specialising in early and contemporary music, sharing the stage with some of the main names in early music and folk, including Carlos Nuñez, Jordi Savall and Hesperion XXI, Sequentia, Theatre of Voices, and The Harp Consort. He has recorded for Sony/BMG, Harmonia Mundi, and Naxos Records. No stranger to the academic realm, he holds a doctorate from Indiana University, and is the former director of the MA programme in Chant at the University of Limerick, Ireland, where he taught until 2014. However, his passion for writing and creating media about music and culture goes back to 2006, when he was a Fulbright Fellow to Spain, after which he began writing programmes for National Public Radio (USA). After his time in academia, Vlad returned to performing and the world of broadcasting, joining Ireland’s RTÉ lyric fm as well as the European Early Music Network, as radio announcer and producer. He is best known to Irish radio listeners as the host and researcher of Vox Nostra, RTÉ lyric fm’s Sunday morning Early Music show. Vlad is co-director of the Limerick Early Music Festival and the H.I.P.S.T.E.R. series. Vlad gratefully acknowledges the support of Arts Council Ireland through the Artist’s Agility Award.

Simon Thompson
Simon Thompson works as an actor, clown, community organiser, producer, director, performance artist, and educator. Simon is an experienced and socially-engaged creative practitioner, workshop facilitator, project manager, and administrator, with specialist knowledge of community engagement through play, empathy, and shared experience. He has a PhD from the University Limerick, where his research and dissertation were on "A Practice-Based Exploration of Mask/Clown and the Development of a New Pedagogy". He is currently the Education and Community Engagement Manager at the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Prior to this role he was the Communities of Culture and Horizon Europe RECHARGE project coordinator at the Hunt Museum as well as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Limerick.
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