A TRIBUTE TO VERONICA DUNNE

80th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION CONCERT

National Concert Hall, Dublin - 2nd August 2007 .......................................page 1

Karl has completed two years of operatic studies in Italy with Gabriuella Ravazza. Whilst there Karl was resident tenor in Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa. In Ireland Karl studied under Dr. Veronica Dunne and Suzanne Murphy at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Howard Reddy (baritone) and Deirdre Masterson (soprano) - La ci darem (Don Giovanni)

At seventeen Deirdre won a scolarship to study under Dr. Veronnica Dunne. She has won all major Feis competitions and holds the title of youngest singers to win the Gervase Elwes Award. She is currently touring extensively with the Irish Sopranos.

Suzanne Murphy (soprano) , Nikki Sharkey (soprano) and Jack O'Kelly (baritone) - Mir ist so wonderbar - (Fidelio )

Nicola Sharkey studied with Dr. Veronica Dunne in Dublin. She has performed leading roles with many major British and European opera companies. She spent a year as "Stratospheric Soprano" with the Swingle Singers. She has released two CD featuring operatic arias and traditional songs.

Imelda Drumm (mezzo-soprano) - Habanera (Carmen)

Imelda studied with Dr. Veronica Dunne and graduated with an honurs degree from Dublin City University. She attended Opera Studio London supported by Glynebourne Opera. Imelda returns to W.N.O as Meg Page in Falstaff Spring 2008 a Peter Stein production with Bryn Terfel and will also take part in Rossini concerts with W.N.O. 's Summer season.

Paul Byrom (tenor) - Core'ngrato (Cardillio)

Paul started training with Dr. Dunne seven years ago. Since then he has taken lead roles in many light operetta's and musicals. Paul is a regular soloist in the N.C.H.

Kathryn Smith (soprano) and ladies chorus- Nun's chorus (Casanova)



Marie Walshe (mezzo-soprano) and Fiona McAndrew (soprano)- Dome epais - (Lakmè )

Marie, having won the RTE Voice of Promise competiton at the age of 15 continued her studies with Dr. Veronica Dunne. Marie now divides her time between teaching and performing.
-
Fiona travelled from her home in Australia to study with Dr. Veronica Dunne. She has performed major operatic roles for companies such as the Wexford Festival Opera, The Covent Garden Frestival, The Rossini Opera Festival, Castleward Opera, Pesaro and the Lyric Opera of San Antonio, Texas.

Tara currently studies with Dr. Veronica Dunne at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. This year Tara was awarded 2nd place in the Veronica Dunne International singing competition where she also reveived the Dermot Troy prize for best Irish singer.

Celine Byrne - Song to the moon (Rusalka)

Celine is currently studying with Dr. Veronica Dunne at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Celine won the Maria Callas Grand Prix in Athens in March 2007 - the first Irish singer to win this prestigious prize. In April 2007 Celine made her Carnegie Hall debut.

John Scott (tenor) , David Martin (tenor) and Karl Scully - La donna e mobile (Rigoletto)

John, a member of Three Tenors Ireland created the role of Patrick in Jim Wilson's A Passionate Man and performed in Meredith Monk's masterpiece Quarry at Spoleto Festival, USA he has played roles in Fidelio, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, Madama Butterfly, Carmen, Tosca and Sweeny Todd with Opera Ireland, Lyric Opera and Opera South.

Kay Lynh studied vocal technique with Dr. Veronica Dunne at the Leinster Opera Studio and with esteemed tutors in London (Lillian Watson), Zurich (Veronica Scully) and Sydney (Ron McConaghie) For four years Kay was lead singer with Riverdance, touring America, Australia, Japan and Europe. She currently tours and records with The Irish Sopranos. Their new album Believe will be released later this year.

Tara Erraught, Kay Lynch (soprano) and Una McMahon (soprano) - Three Little Maids (The Mikado)

After graduating from the BA performance degree at the Royal Irish Academy of Music under the tutillage of Dr. Veronica Dunne, Una moved to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where she is currently enrolled in the opera school.

Orla was the winner of the first Veronica Dunne singing competition. Last season she made her debut as Blanche Duboios in Andre Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire with Opera Ireland and sang in the world premier of Richard Mill's Love of the Nightingale in the Perth International Arts Festival. Future plans include Sieglinde (Opera du Rhin) and Countess Almaviva (Cologne)

Paul Kelly (tenor) and Jack O'Kelly (baritone) - Au fond du temple (Pearl Fishers)

Jack studied with Dr. Veronica Dunne for three years and sings with the Welsh National Opera.

Franzita Whelan (soprano) - Porgi amor (Nozze di Figaro)

Franzita has performed extensively with the Welsh National Opera, Opera Ireland, the Garsington Opera, Opera Colorado, RTE Concert and Symphony Orchestras amongst many others. Franzita has appeared in the title role of Janacek's Kata Kabanova, Gerhilde in Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen and the title role in Janacek's Janufa.

Angela, the first of Vernica Dunne's pupils to become a Soloist at an International Opera house - The Munich State Opera -
she has appeared at all the major houses in Germany, Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt, worked with Swallisch, Kleiber,Patane. Recordings include Peer Gynt (Orfeo), Tiefland (RCA) and Rossini's Stabat Mater.

Vivienne Hassell (soprano) - O Belle Nuit (Tales of Hoffmann)

Vivienne is a Masters Graduate of RIAM under Dr. Veronica Dunne. In 2006 she made her recording debut in the DCF's "Mozart 250" celebration CD. The same year she made her operatic debut as La Contessa in Ugo Benelli's production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and has just sung Clorinda in Rossini's La Cenerentola again with Ugo Benelli.