BIOGRAPHY
Dearbhla Collins is one of Ireland’s finest musicians.
In addition to her accomplished career as a soloist, the prize winning pianist is a regular chamber music partner to many internationally renowned singers as well as Ireland’s leading artists.
Pianist Dearbhla Collins is vocal coach at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and also Artistic Consultant at the National Opera Studio, London. She is Artistic Director of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition.
She is highly regarded internationally as a song pianist; she enjoys collaborating with singers who have a real passion for song, among whom are Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Simon Keenlyside, Benjamin Appl, Tara Erraught and Anna Devin. These performances include recitals throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe. She has also toured the US with Tara Erraught and given masterclasses and recitals in Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan in China.
Dearbhla founded Dublin Song Series in 2013 and continues to curate it in partnership with the National Concert Hall and the Hugh Lane Gallery. Recent 2024 recitals include concerts with Paul Murrihy and Anthony Leon.
Dearbhla is guest vocal coach at Mascarade Opera Studio, Florence and the Young Artist Programme at the National Opera House, Warsaw. She regularly plays for projects and masterclasses with Dame Ann Murray, Brigitte Fassbaender and Marie McLaughlin. She has given masterclasses at RNCM, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Opera North, Leeds.
As Artistic Director of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Dearbhla has worked alongside such guest jury members as Richard Bonynge, Peter Carwell, Ileana Cotrubas, John Gilhooly, Sergei Leiferkus, Marie McLaughlin and Christina Scheppelmann.
Dearbhla was a member of the Board of the National Concert Hall, Dublin from 2010 – 2015, having previously served two terms on the Board of Culture Ireland. She is currently Chair of Pan Pan Theatre Company. In October 2017 Dearbhla was awarded an honorary doctorate for her services to music in Ireland from the National University of Ireland.
