Helen’s first foray into organising classical music concerts was as a student at UCD where she played cello in the college orchestra, which she co-founded under the conducting skills of Coleman Pearce. A native of Kilkenny and an archaeologist by academic training, she has given the greater part of her professional life to Fermanagh as the curator of our County Museum where, amongst many other things, she set up traditional music concerts. In the 1970s and 80s she coordinated classical music concerts in association with Fermanagh District Council’s arts officer. More recently, Helen has helped to organise traditional and classical music concerts with Enniskillen Arts Festival and Fermanagh Live. Nationally, Helen has served on the board of The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the board of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre and the Cultural Relations Committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.

SECRETARY

Geoffrey has intertwined two careers all his life. Recently retired from teaching, latterly as a primary school principal, his second career as a professional singer has given the classical music aficionados of the North of Ireland the pleasure of his high baritone voice. After training with the best teachers in Belfast, he sang leading rôles with Studio Opera, Castleward Opera and Opera Northern Ireland (and Fermanagh Choral Society!). He taught singing at the Belfast School of Music and at Queen’s University. He also sang as a lay-clerk in St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast. Geoffrey was a regular judge on UTV’s Choir of the Year. He also sat on the appointments committee of the Belfast Education & Library Board, selecting vice principals & principals. He also interviewed, along with a senior lecturer, candidates for entry into Stranmillis University College. Geoffrey is, at present, studying for a degree in law.

TREASURER

Born into a very musical household, the daughter of an internationally-renowned composer, with all the exposure to music which that brought, it followed naturally that Joanna should study music, obtaining a B.Mus from Trinity College, Dublin. But from her family Joanna also inherited the Impartial Reporter and was its managing director for the last years of its life in private hands. Her public service has been exemplary. Nationally she has served on the NI Museums Council, the NI Rural Development Board (chairperson) and is currently a member of the National Trust’s Regional Advisory Board. Locally, Joanna is a trustee of the Fermanagh Trust, the Devenish Partnership Forum, the Viola Westminster Bursary and an advisory member of the Joan Trimble Bursary Awards. She is a former chairperson of Fermanagh Arts Festival and former classical music secretary of Fermanagh Feis. Joanna has a soft spot for jazz, at one time playing piano in a local band, Jazzwyse.