Dublin Youth Choir’s Summer Sing

Dublin Youth Choir is running its first-ever summer course in association with the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

From 1st- 5th July 2024, singers aged 9-14 will rehearse from 9 am - 4 pm every day in RIAM's stunning new campus on Westland Row.

Led by DYC conductors Lynsey Callaghan and Brian Murphy, singers will participate in a range of activities, including physical and vocal warm-ups, musicianship classes, sectionals, full-choir rehearsals, and social activities. Singers will learn a range of joyful repertoire, celebrating the beginning of summer through song!

Summer Sing will culminate in a performance for family and friends in RIAM’s brand-new Whyte Recital Hall. Everyone is welcome to be part of DYC’s Summer Sing—there will be no audition and no music experience/training required to fully take part!

The course has been designed by the DYC Music Team in a way that will challenge highly experienced singers, while also welcoming those new to choral singing at the same time!

Boys with changing voices are encouraged to be part of this experience and will be uniquely supported on this course alongside members of DYC’s Cambiata Choir. 

Participants age: 9-14

Everyone is welcome to be part of DYC’s Summer Sing—there will be no audition and no music experience/training required to fully take part!

Lynsey Callaghan

Following a degree in music education (Trinity College Dublin and DIT Conservatory of Music) and a master’s degree in choral conducting (Royal Irish Academy of Music), Lynsey Callaghan undertook a PhD in medieval musicology at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Lynsey is the Head of Programmes, Research and Academics at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Lynsey is passionate about providing opportunities for excellence in youth choral music.

She is the Director of the Belfast Philharmonic Youth and Chamber Choirs. In October 2017, Lynsey founded Dublin Youth Choir. Dublin Youth Choir aims to fill the regional gap in incremental choral music education in Dublin. As both the Belfast Philharmonic Youth and Chamber Choirs and Dublin Youth Choir share a philosophy of music education that is inspired by Kodály, the development of musicianship is at the heart of the work of both organisations. The Belfast Philharmonic Youth and Chamber Choirs and Dublin Youth Choir have joined together for several projects as the Cross Border Youth Choir.

Since developing her pedagogical and musicianship skills at the Kodály Institute in Hungary, Lynsey has worked as a musicianship tutor for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Irish Youth Choir, Ulster Youth Choir and Youth Choir Kenya. She was conductor of the Ulster Youth Junior Choir in 2018. Lynsey is Music Director of Tallaght Choral Society. She has also worked as chorus master for Chamber Choir Ireland, Ireland’s flagship professional choir.

Brian Murphy 

Brian Murphy graduated with a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting in 2021 and is currently in his third year of the Doctor in Music Performance degree at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, specialising in choral conducting and undertaking research on Cambiata voices. He is also undertaking the ITM Alexander Technique Teacher Training Course.

Brian completed his bachelor’s degree in music and history at Maynooth University before undertaking a PGCE in music education at Edge Hill University, England. During his time in Maynooth, Brian served as President of the Music Society and was elected Students’ Union President in 2009, through which he became the chief student representative for the Maynooth students both within the university and nationally.

From 2016 to 2021, Brian was the Musical Director of the Dublin Welsh Male Voice Choir. Under his direction, the choir performed at many high-profile events, including President Michael D. Higgin’s garden party, at Áras an Uachtaráin for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the final of the Pro-14 Rugby Tournament in the Aviva Stadium. Brian conducts Amici Vocal Ensemble in Clontarf.

He is a secondary school teacher and is active as a clarinettist and saxophonist. Brian has sung with numerous choirs and is currently a member of the award-winning choir Mornington Singers. Brian directs Pre-DYC and the Cambiata Choir. He also teaches musicianship to several groups within DYC and "Brave the Stave" - Introduction to Sight Reading Choral Music to members of RIAM's Well Sing Choir.

David Callaghan

David Callaghan completed a primary degree in music education at Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He has a wide range of performance experience as a pianist, singer, violinist and conductor. David was awarded a music scholarship from Wesley College, Dublin where he directed an award-winning chamber choir and from there, has conducted various choirs. In addition to his role as Director of Trinity Singers during his studies at TCD, David was involved as Musical Director for their Musical Theatre Society’s production of West Side Story and directed chamber music projects at RIAM.

David has sung with many choirs including Irish Youth Chamber Choir, Dublin Youth Chamber Choir, Trinity Singers and the RIAM Chorale. He has sung with Trinity Orchestra in their pop music sets at music festivals around Ireland. As an accompanist, he has performed with an array of choirs and soloists. David is the accompanist for Setanta Choir in Co. Louth and Dublin Youth Choir with whom he also teaches musicianship courses. David spent a term at the Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary where he studied conducting, pedagogy and performance.

As a passionate music educator, David teaches post-primary music and has tutored lower voices in several choirs including Dublin Youth Choir, Dublin Youth Chamber Choir, Tallaght Choral Society and the RIAM Youth Choir Summer Course. He is a member of the music staff at Mount Argus Parish and is Director of Music at Harold’s Cross Church.

David conducts several Dublin Youth Junior Choirs, teaches musicianship to Junior and Training Choirs, and accompanies all DYC choirs as required.