UCD School of Music
Scoil an Cheoil UCD
Dr Orla Flanagan
Dr Orla Flanagan studied choral conducting with Péter Erdei at the Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music, Hungary, and has participated in courses and masterclasses throughout Europe with Gary Graden, Carlo Pavese, Anders Eby, Celso Antunes and George Hurst. She has completed doctoral studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
Orla’s mixed-voice choir, The Mornington Singers, has been awarded numerous prizes throughout Ireland, including the International Grand Prix at Sligo Choral Festival 2009, First Prize in the lyric fm Choirs for Christmas Competition and Third Prize in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at Cork International Choral Festival 2008. In 2011 Orla gained the Mc Curtain & McSwiney Award to a conductor at the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, and in April 2009 she was awarded a special prize for interpretation at the 10th International Choral Competition, Maribor, Slovenia. She frequently adjudicates at Irish choral festivals, most recently at Arklow, Cork, Derry, New Ross and Waterford.
Orla has appeared with several professional choral ensembles; as conductor of Milltown Chamber Choir, and as a guest conductor with the National Chamber Choir. Orla’s recent performances with the NCC include their Spring concert tour 2011 and performances for President Barack Obama at the White House and on his visit to College Green, Dublin. She is also a lecturer in the Department of Music at Trinity College, Dublin, where she teaches aural training.
Orla assumed directorship of the UCD Philharmonic Choir in September 2011, and she is delighted to be working with this able and enthusiastic team of singers.