Violin

Count Us in provides free violin lessons for young people aged 10 to 14 years. Group lessons are held once a week in Colaiste Chu Chulainn, Dundalk. Participants also receive an instrument on loan.

The programme is suitable for beginners but may also be of interest to young people who have a foundation in piano.

Participants are provided with a violin on loan for the duration of the programme to participate in free weekly group lessons.

Expert Tutor: Marieclaire Brody

Marieclaire graduated with a Masters in Classical String Performance from The University of Limerick in 2018 under the guidance of Katherine Hunka, leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra. She was awarded the RTE Lyric FM String Scholarship to complete her studies.

In 2012 she graduated from the Cork School of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) under the guidance of renowned violinist Ruxandra Petcu-Colan. She has also completed postgraduate studies in violin performance with the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.

She is currently studying violin with Raquel Castro in Barcelona, Spain. Marieclaire has participated in many solo and chamber master classes with violinists Baiba Skride, Catherine Leonard, Debbie Diamond, the Vanburgh Quartet, Aoife Nic Athlaoich, Robin Panter, Rita Manning and the RTE Con Tempo Quartet. Marieclaire is 1st violinist with the Amoroso Quartet and as a former member of the CBOI has always had a keen interest in orchestral playing. Most recently she has played with the Irish Chamber Orchestra during their 2018 December tour. She led the Esker Festival Orchestra on their 2017 tour.

Marieclaire has played and toured extensively with many orchestras in Ireland including the Hibernian Orchestra, Fishamble Sinfonia, SinfoNua and the Academos ensemble with the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

As a session violinist Marieclaire has recorded and performed with many artists such as Lisa Hannigan, Hermitage Green, We Lived in Cities, I Am Niamh and FIELDS. Marieclaire has a great interest in teaching and has been on staff with the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s ‘Sing Out With Strings’ programme. She is currently also teaching the CBOI Dynamic Strings project.