Katharina Baker – Director, teaches Violin/Viola, Choir, Orchestra
Katharina grew up in Lübeck, Germany where she played music since very young. She studied the Violin and Music Pedagogy at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm (1996-2002). She has a broad experience as a chamber and orchestra musician as well as conductor and composer, both in Sweden and Ireland.
Since 2002 Katharina has been enjoying teaching music in Co. Galway and Clare.

Fiona Buckley, Administrator
Fiona is Coole Music’s Administrator and is the contact person for both parents and teachers.   Fiona has an extensive background in administration, and holds a Diploma in Community Development and in Music Education from NUIG.  Please contact Fiona for any questions regarding timetables, fees, registration.  Tel:  086-3467245 or info@coole-music.com

Clare Sawtell – teaches Cello
Clare has her roots in England where she learned the classical cello from an early age. She plays today in a variety of ensembles – classical, folk and traditional. Clare has guested on several albums and has considerable experience in working with songwriters. In 2002 she produced the CD The Idle Road with Mary O’Sullivan, a compilation of traditional and original material. She is currently cellist with Coole String Quartet and lives in Kinvara. 

Amadeus Johnson – teaches Violin
Amadeus was born and raised in Brazil. He comes from a family of classical musicians, was taught in Violin by his father and it came natural to him to continue that tradition. He has been playing with different orchestras both in Brazil and Ireland and is currently leader of the Galway Youth Orchestra. Recently Amadeus won a composing competition for choir work. Amadeus and his family have been living in Loughrea since 2002.

Joanne Cater teaches flute, saxophone, clarinet, recorder Joanne Cater graduated with honours from the Colchester Institute of Music in 1996 where she studied under the direction of Duke Dobing. She worked in Warwickshire from 1996-2000 as a peripatetic woodwind teacher and was flautist in the North Warwickshire Concert Orchestra, also conductor/director of the Warwickshire County Flute Choir.  Living in Galway since 2000 Joanne enjoys teaching her many and varied students and in 2004 was appointed honorary local representative of the Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music. A multi-instrumentalist she also enjoys playing an assortment of woodwinds in musical shows in the region and baritone sax with the Black Magic Big Band. Joanne joined Galway Youth Orchestra in 2004 as conductor of Junior Orchestra and the Alouette Wind Band. Along with Michael Dooley and Elena Gekker Joanne forms the Oirbsen Chamber Trio.

Alan Preims teaches percussion
Alan was born in Merano in Italy and began his music career learning the  electric guitar from the well-established guitarist Massimo Guarrieri. From the age of 17 he performed in numerous concerts around Italy. During this time he discovered his love for drums and went on studying Djembe, Congas, Bata-drums etc. with well known Italian percussionists such as Rosario Jermano (at Ciac Musica – Rome), Luca Scorziello (teaching in Timbale – Rome) and Giovanni Imparato, specializing in Nigerian and Afro-Cuban drumming.
Alan is performing and recording regularly all around Ireland and abroad. He is based in Galway.

Derek Hoffmann – teaches Piano and Music Theory
Born in 1974 in Poznan, Poland, Derek is a graduate of the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw as well as a post graduate of L’Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris. The musical career came natural to him as his father is the conductor of the Warsaw National Opera, where his mother also is an opera singer.
Derek has played solo recitals and piano concertos with orchestra in many European cities. He worked in the Warsaw School of Drama as a teacher and composer and at the National Opera as pianist and repetiteur.
Derek won many competitions and awards including 1st prize Bach-competion in Germany and 1st prize Szymanowski-competition in Poland. He came to Ireland in 2002 where he has been resident pianist at the Renvyle House Hotel for a number of years.

Audrey Lovern – teaches Piano and Irish Harp
Audrey was born in Galway and studied music from an early age. She learned piano, Irish harp (with Kathleen Loughnane) and tin whistle (with Mary Bergin) privately and studied flute as a member of the Galway Youth Orchestra. Having completed degrees in Arts and Art and Design in 2001, Audrey went to Illinois where she taught English and took up further studies in Piano and Music Theory at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Since returning to Ireland  in 2005 she has taught music privately and regularly appeared as a harpist for medieval banquets at Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara Co. Galway.

Mary O'Sullivan teaches Button Accordion,
particularly single row meledeon style and also accordion accompaniment to singing. She grew up in Miltown Malbay in Co. Clare, a rich environment for traditional music. She has played professionally for many years and is also a published singer songwriter with a number of recordings to her credit. Mary recently received her M.A. in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick.

Agnieszka Jablonska -teaches Dance (Pre-Ballet/Hip-Hop)Agnieszka was born in Gliwice, Poland where she danced classical ballet for 10 years in her home town. She is also trained and has experience in Latino American, Hip-Hop, Ballroom Dance, Capoeira and has done workshops and classes in many more different dance styles.  Agnieszka graduated in Drama College in Krakow, Poland where she had intense training in classical ballet, techniques of stage movement and acrobatics.  She moved to Amsterdam where she attended Mime and Dance University and took part in various dance and theatre projects. She has lived in Ireland since 2005.