About the directors

LAOISE O'HANLON | MA Bmus

Laoise graduated from CIT Cork School of Music with a 1st class honours MA degree in jazz vocal performance. She received the prestigious ‘Top Overall Performance/ Composition Student’ award. Laoise also received ‘Top Overall Performer’ award and Bmus (Hons) degree in Popular Music performance at London’s ‘Vocaltech’ (TVU, London College of Music). She also holds qualifications and awards from Cork School of Music (Classical singing - Scholarship recipient), Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, Royal Irish Academy (Musical Theatre), Suzuki and V.E.C.

Laoise is a consummate and avid performer, having sung on stages such as The Cork Opera House, Everyman Theatre, Theatre Royal (Waterford), Shepherd’s Bush Empire (London) and Cork Guinness Jazz Festival Club, to name but a few. Laoise has sung as soloist with outfits including NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra - London), Cork School of Music Jazz Big Band and concert orchestra, Opus Pocus Big Band (Waterford), Hothouse Big Band (Dublin), Evelyn Grant’s Cork Pops Orchestra and London based ‘Sense of Sound’ a cappella pop choir, amongst many others. She has undertaken professional studio work with artists such as Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) and Meteor award winning Irish acts. She released original music on an independent London record label in 2005 and toured as solo singer on the European theatre circuit with an Irish dance company.

Laoise has gained ten years teaching experience, both privately and with Vocaltutor UK, Douglas School of Music and the Cork Arts Studio and is passionate about nurturing and developing creative performing and recording artists.

GEMMA SUGRUE | MA Bmus

Gemma graduated from CIT Cork School of Music with 1st class honours MA and Bmus degrees, specialising in classical vocal performance. She received a distinction at Grade 8 and Senior Certificate with the Royal Irish Academy of Music and was awarded the High Achievers Award by president Mary McAleese. She received a distinction in her Grade 8 piano exam with The Royal Irish Academy of Music. She was awarded the prestigious Eamon Kelly arts bursary in 2005. Gemma has toured Australia, The Caribbean, Europe and the UK as a soloist with professional theatre group, Ceol Chiarraí.

Among countless professional engagements, Gemma has worked as classical soloist in Purcell and Bach’s “St. Matthews Passion” with the East Cork Choral Society and “Ecstatic Instances”, as part of a recital series at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Gemma has much professional recording experience, including studio sessions with contemporary classical composer C.S.L. Parker and other promotional recordings. Pop music plays a part in Gemma’s professional career and she is front person, manager and musical director of all female live band, She’s Electric, who perform regularly on the national circuit. Gemma is passionate about teaching and has many years experience as a private vocal coach. She taught singing at CADA performing arts for four years. She conducts the Ballyphehane Mary Assumpta girls choir who performed at UCC’s prestigious “A Summer Evening on the Quad” with Cara O’ Sullivan. She has also been heavily involved with renowned vocal ensemble Madrigal ‘75 and CIT Cork School of Music’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

In addition to being professional performers, we enjoy channeling our energies, expertise and experience into creating a variety of educational and performance opportunities for the singing talent of Cork! We aspire to create a supportive and proactive community where each singer is nurtured in order to reach their full potential.