Head of School, Lecturer in Oboe
Ciara is Head of MTU Cork School of Music. She is also principal oboe with Camerata Ireland and has played with the Colorado Symphony, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, the co-founded Airde Ensemble, and at the Buell Theatre in Denver. Until May 2016, she was a graduate teacher at the University of Colorado, Boulder where she completed her Doctoral degree in Oboe Performance and Pedagogy.
Ciara is an experienced and dedicated educator. She was a Lead Graduate Teacher for the University of Colorado where she provided pedagogical training and professional development for graduate students and trainee teachers from departments across the entire university campus. Ciara was awarded two "Best Should Teach" awards by the university in 2014 and 2015. She now works with a new generation of students to develop their own teaching skills.
Ciara has performed on five continents as an oboist and still enjoys touring with Camerata Ireland. Highlights include New York’s Carnegie Hall, National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai India, Corpartes Center for the Arts in Santiago Chile, Royal Opéra Versailles in Paris France, and Guanajuato Mexico.
Ciara completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder where she studied with Peter Cooper, Jason Lichtenwalter and James Brody. Previous to her doctoral study, Ciara completed a Master of Music degree (2013) as a Fulbright student at the University of Colorado, a Graduate Diploma in Music Education from the University of Limerick, and a Bachelor of Music degree (2009) at the MTU Cork School of Music, Ireland studying with Aisling Casey, Matthew Manning and Katrina Emtage. Her early musical training took place at the County Cork ETB School of Music as a flute student with Conor O'Connell, and at the Cork School of Music with Sarah Burn.
Ciara is supported by Music Network's Music Capital Scheme, funded by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Arts Council of Ireland.