Orla Flanagan, Conductor

Orla Flanagan is a choral conductor based in Dublin, Ireland. Following her graduation from Trinity College Dublin with a music degree in 1999, she completed postgraduate training as a conductor with Péter Erdei at the Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music, Hungary (2000-2002). She has since then participated in conducting courses and masterclasses with Gary Graden, Carlo Pavese, Anders Eby, Celso Antunes and George Hurst, and continues to further her studies abroad.

Orla has conducted the Mornington Singers since 2002. Under her direction, the choir was awarded First Prize and a distinction at both the 2004 and 2005 Cork International Choral Festivals. In 2006, she gained the International Jury Award to a conductor at the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at the Cork International Choral Festival, and in 2008, the Mornington Singers were awarded Third Prize in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, from the largest ever field of fifteen international choirs.

Orla also directs Milltown Chamber Choir, a nine-voice professional vocal ensemble based in Milltown Church, Dublin, and has recorded for RTÉ lyric fm as a guest conductor with the National Chamber Choir of Ireland in 2006 and 2007. Other CD recordings include a selection of music for Advent and Christmas recorded with the Milltown Chamber Choir, and SOLAS, Orla's first CD with the Mornington Singers. Both discs were produced by Bill Whelan.

Orla has been a lecturer in the Department of Music at Trinity College Dublin since 2002, where she teaches courses in Aural and Keyboard Skills, Counterpoint, Notation and Music Theory on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She also adjudicates frequently at the major Irish choral festivals.

Current and past conductors

The choir is privileged to have sung under a number of talented musical directors during its over ten-year history.

• Orla Flanagan (2002-present)
• Rosemary Collier (2000-2002)
• John Page (1999-2000)
• Shane O'Shea (1997-1999)