Mairéad Buicke soprano

Limerick born Mairead Buicke has graduated with a first class honours BA Performance Degree from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, studying voice under the Dr. Veronica Dunne. Prior to her studies in Dublin, Mairead began her vocal training with Aine Nic Ghabhann Kerry and then with Robert Beare Cork. She has performed in Concerts, recitals and opera in such venues as the National Art Gallery of Ireland, the National Concert Hall Dublin, Farmleigh House Dublin, University Concert Hall Limerick and also in Italy, Scotland and the USA.

Summer 2003, Mairead studied with renowned tenor Ugo Benelli in Italy where she also performed in concert and studied in St. Andrews College Scotland with such greats as Malcolm Martineau and the late Paul Hamburger. She has also had the pleasure and honour of working with the internationally acclaimed Irish Mezzo Soprano, Ann Murray.

In Feis Ceoil 2004, Mairead was awarded first place in several major singing competitions and was also awarded the prestigious Gervase Elwes Cup. In February 2004 she was awarded the Bill Canning Memorial Bursary for the most promising young performer in Ireland. Mairead was awarded first place in the Belfast Classical Music Bursary April 2004 and was awarded the RDS bursary June 2004.
That same month she was a semi finalist aswell as a special prize winner at the "Belvedere International Singing Competition" in Vienna. In July Mairead was awarded the "Anthony Kearns Vocal Bursary Scholorship" for young Irish Singers. Mairead is aso a Bank of Ireland Millennium Scholar.

Mairead continues her studies with greatly acclaimed voice teacher Janice Chapman, London. She was a student on the 2005-06 course at the National Opera Studio London where her studies were supported by the Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation, the Robert Vivian Memorial Trust, a Nelly Groner Bursary and Amici di Verdi. She is also a young associated artist with Opera Theatre Company, Ireland , working under the guidence of internationally renowned repetiteur Brenda Hurley.

Recent engagements include, Music from Egmont, Beethoven, Beethoven series, May 2005 with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra. Evening Recitals at the Music for Galway Festival , February, 2005. Leighton House, Kensington London, Bantry Chamber Music Festial, May 2005. Music for Wexford Festival , June 2005. The Aix en Provence Academy Festival July 2005. Lunchtime Concert with the RTE Concert Orchestra at the NCH August 2005. December 2005 a concert performance of La Boheme, singing Mimi with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra at the NCH, Dublin. New Year's Eve Gala Concert with the Rte Concert Orchestra, under Laurent Wagner, A Celebration of Mozart at the NCH January 2006, Lunchtime recitals for the National Opera Studio London. Opera Scenes with the National Opera studio London, singing Fiordiligi " Cosi fan Tutte" , Clorinda " Cenerentola" and Antonia " Les Contes d'Hoffmann" with Opera North, Leed's and Welsh National Opera , Cardiff, January and March 2006, Opera scenes in the Hackney Empire, London, June 2006, Singing Violetta " La Traviata" and Mimi " La Boheme". An Opera evening with the Ulster Symphony Orchestra June 2006,

Future engagements include an Evening Recital at the Boyle Arts Festival July 2006. Viennese Concerts with Opera North Leeds December 2006, Mahler 4 with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra January 2007.

"Buicke demonstrated her prowess at the NCH on 25 May in Ravel's 'Sheherazade'".
Ian Fox, The Sunday Tribune, June 6th 2004.

"Rapidly rising Limerick soprano Mairead Buicke, whose wide- ranging programme …… showed a musical manner that was forthright, a tone that was pleasing and a delivery that was sure and strong. ….. The voice is one that commands serious attention,."
Michael Dervan, The Irish Times, July 27th 2004.

" Mairead Buicke, making her debut in the title role....... gave a performance of some distinction. Her smooth soprano voice soared in all the right places and she spanned Puccini's wide phrases with ease...... and vocal acting in the last act was heart breakingly convincing,."
John Allen, The Irish Times, December 5th 2005.