Niamh Crowley

Niamh, a native of Rosses Point, began her musical training at the age of four and attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music for eleven years. She continued her studies at the Royal College of Music, London with the celebrated Israeli violinist Professor Itzhak Rashkovsky, graduating with a first class honours degree and subsequently a postgraduate in performance as a Senior Exhibitioner and holder of the Beckwith Music Scholarship. She was awarded the centenary Tagore Gold Medal for the most outstanding student at the College and performed for HRH Prince Charles who presented her with the award.

Niamh performs regularly with Barry Douglas as a member of Camerata Ireland including tours of North and South America, China and throughout Europe. They also played for the Queen on her recent visit to Ireland. Niamh has a busy freelance career performing with Andrea Bocelli,José Carerras, Westlife, Sinead O'Connor, Il Divo and Colm Wilkinson to name but a few. She also works with the National Symphony Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra and many other ensembles nationwide.

She is an experienced recitalist and has performed concerti with many orchestras including Tchaikovsky and Bruch Violin Concertos with the RTE Concert Orchestra. She has toured extensively with the European Union Youth Orchestra and has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Niamh broadcasts regularly on television and radio including Open House, The Late Late Show, Mike Murphy Arts Show, Pat Kenny Radio Show. She is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the Royal College of Music Orchestral Leadership Award 1999, The Peadar Cillin Medal for the highest mark in Leaving Cert Music and the Mossman Prize for the highest mark in Great Britain and Ireland for Piano Associated Board Exams.

In September 2000 Niamh founded the Sligo Academy of Music to create opportunities for instrumental tuition in the classical genre in the Northwest. She is now very busy as the director of music at SAM which now boasts 20 teachers and over 300 students. Niamh conducts the Sligo Academy of Music Junior and Sinfonietta orchestras who she has brought to perform in the National Concert Hall and on tour to the Czech Republic and Hungary. She also conducts the County Sligo Golf Club Male Voice Choir. She has been involved in musicals throughout the country from a very early age as both performer and musician. Niamh has worked as musical director for many shows since 1999 and currently enjoys this role with The Fun Company Sligo.