Brendan

Brendan began learning violin at the age of seven at the Cork School of Music, under Colette O’Brien and later with Adrian Petcu. Joining the Cork Youth Orchestra and Irish Youth Orchestra opened up a world of collaborative playing, and were formative experiences for him which led on to participating in summer chamber music courses, both in Ireland and abroad.

Keen to pursue a degree in music, and specialise in violin performance, Brendan studied at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, where he gained a BMus degree, under the guidance of Leland Chen. While at the RNCM, Brendan was an ABRSM EU Scholar and was a finalist in both the Norman George Violin Scholarship and the Helen Porthouse Paganini Prize competitions. Opportunities to perform as an active chamber musician at the RNCM were many, and he was awarded the Weil Prize in 2016.

Since his time at the RNCM, he has completed a Master’s in Music Performance, studying under Gregory Ellis, at the CIT Cork School of Music, and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student of 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.

As a keen chamber musician, Brendan has performed at many events and festivals, including the Ortús Chamber Music Festival, Salisbury International Arts Festival, Finding a Voice Festival, Kaleidoscope and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. As a freelance orchestral player, he has played with numerous orchestras, including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.

Tutoring Experience

I have extensive experience teaching beginner and experienced violin players both in-person and online. I have worked with students to attain grades in ABRSM, RIAM and Cork School of Music.

Tutoring Approach

Violin playing is by nature a creative and individual undertaking. I believe the most practical approach should therefore be one that is individualised, based on each student’s unique set of strengths and needs. My approach to teaching the violin has been informed by my own learning, from a young age through to my studies at master’s level, as well as by my performing experience.

My students typically participate in 1-2 individual violin lessons a week, which may be in-person or online via video call. Lessons are typically geared towards helping the students to become self-sufficient in their practice and therefore equipped with an understanding that helps them to get the most enjoyment out of playing the violin. There is a focus on developing one’s own musical imagination, as well as the application of technique that enables the student to express themselves in a natural and comfortable manner.