MA Dip. Kodály Intézet BMus DipABRSM

Amy Ryan is a conductor, lecturer and performer based in Dublin, Ireland. She currently lectures at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and previously at Trinity College Dublin.

As a conductor, Amy founded Cuore Chamber Choir, leading them to first prizes at all the major choral competitions in Ireland and more recently to a number of prizes at Tallinn International Choral Festival, 2023. Artistic Director of UCD Philharmonic Choir since 2014, she has also appeared as guest conductor with the UCD Symphony Orchestra and will return in this role for the 2023-2024 season.

As conductor of Jubilate Choir, Amy presented the Irish premiere of Graun’s 18th century passion oratorio, Der Tod Jesu, along with performances of other symphonic choral works. Previously she worked with the Irish Youth Choir and St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Girls’ Choir. Amy is also in demand as an adjudicator, workshop facilitator and guest conductor. She has worked as chorus director with Irish National Opera, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, North Dublin Opera, and Lyric Opera chorus. She regularly sings with the choir of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin and has performed throughout Europe and the United States as a cellist, flautist and choral singer.

She has studied conducting with Peter Erdei, Robert Houlihan, Simon Carrington, Alice Farnham, Alan Cutts and Volker Hempfling. She completed her formal studies at the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy of Music, Hungary, earning both a Master’s degree in Kodály Music Pedagogy (distinction) and an Advanced Diploma in Choral Conducting (distinction), studying under Peter Erdei and Dr László Nemes. She earned her Bachelor of Music at CIT Cork School of Music with first-class honours.

Amy was Chairperson of Kodály Ireland from 2018-2022, directing their annual summer course. She was appointed to the board of Sing Ireland in December 2022.

Patricia is a business woman who has always loved singing and who has a particular love of choral music. She has been a member of several community choirs over the past decade where she brought her organizational skills to the choral world. She founded Cuore in May 2014 to cater for the amateur singer who wants to give more and to get more from their experience of choral singing. Patricia attends vocal training under the direction of Donna Gallagher and currently also sings with the RTE Philharmonic Choir.

"Cuore is a labour of love for me. We have been most fortunate in securing the hugely talented Amy Ryan as Conductor. Amy's abundance of talent and skill is obvious to all who have the pleasure of working with her, and the members of Cuore are certainly benefitting from what she brings to the choir. Together, we plan to do great things with Cuore."