Executive Team

Sinéad Hope is an experienced arts leader with over two decades of experience in Ireland’s cultural sector, spanning strategic leadership, artistic programming, fundraising, audience development and organisational growth.

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She held the position of Managing Director of University Concert Hall (UCH), Limerick, from 2013 - 2026. During her tenure, she oversaw significant growth and development of the organisation, strengthening its artistic profile, financial sustainability and national reputation, while developing strategic partnerships and expanding access to live performance.

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Her leadership encompassed the development of a diverse programme of concerts, festivals and cultural initiatives, including the Limerick Summer Proms and Limerick Sings International Choral Festival. She also led major fundraising and capital development projects, cultivated strong relationships with artists, orchestras, cultural organisations and funding partners, and championed initiatives to engage new and diverse audiences.

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During her tenure, UCH received numerous industry accolades, including the IMRO Best Live Music Venue in Munster Award, multiple Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards and, most recently, the 2026 Business to Arts Creative Access Award for its Panto For All initiative, recognising its commitment to making live performance accessible to underserved communities.

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Prior to joining UCH, Sinéad spent a number of years at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, holding roles across fundraising, corporate development and concert management, where she worked closely with leading artists, orchestras and international cultural partners.

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Sinéad holds a BA, MLitt and MBA from University College Dublin.

Doireann has been playing music since the age of 6, first learning violin before later commencing cello lessons. This has led to her to play with many different ensembles from a young age as well as having a background in choral singing.  During her time in the MTU Cork School of music, she became aware of her love of conducting and specialised in it throughout the degree.  In addition to her conducting opportunities in CSM with lecturers Tom Doyle and Conor Palliser, she has recently assisted Sinead Hayes, James Kavanagh and received tuition from Robert Houlihan.

 

As a cellist, she has worked alongside the Irish Baroque Orchestra and is a founding member of the Iverni Baroque Ensemble. 

Alison has a varied professional and academic background. In 2011, she completed a B.A. in Applied Languages and Translation Studies at Dublin City University and went on to undertake a M. Phil in Literary Translation at Trinity College Dublin in 2012. 

 

In 2015, she took a change of direction and studied Cultural Event Management in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dun Laoghaire. From there she began her career in fundraising, working on individual giving campaigns in the Irish Red Cross from 2016-2021. As a member of staff for the national society of a global organisation, she gained invaluable insight into creative ways of reaching common goals, working against the clock and driving income. In 2019, Alison undertook a Diploma in Fundraising Management with the Charities Institute of Ireland and gained a wider knowledge of other areas of fundraising and development. 

 

Alison played oboe and piano as a youngster and was a member of the Dublin Youth Orchestra and Greystones Youth Orchestra. These days she is a singer and songwriter who loves her family and delights in her book club. 

Aisling Kenny is a soprano soloist, ensemble singer and recitalist specialising in historical performance. She performs regularly with leading Irish and European ensembles including the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Collegium Vocale Gent and Resurgam.

 

As Choir Fixer for the
Irish Baroque Orchestra, she works closely with the Artistic Director and Executive Team to engage soloists and ensemble singers for the IBO Chorus.
Aisling has a broad professional background spanning research, teaching and organisation. Awarded funding from the Arts Council and the Irish Research Council for both performance and research, she has organised numerous concerts, recitals and conferences.

 

As an educator, Aisling has taught in schools and universities as lecturer and vocal coach, contributing to
module design, curriculum review and student mentoring. She has served as examiner for the Royal Irish Academy of Music and adjudicator at national competitions. Her research includes Women and the Nineteenth-Century Lied (Ashgate, 2015), co-edited with Susan
Wollenberg, and articles on Irish singers in The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland.
 

Aisling was Trustee and Choir Advisor for the Charles Wood Festival and Summer School (2012-17), curating a forty-voice choir of professional and student singers for concerts, services and live broadcasts. She holds a BMus and PhD in Musicology from Maynooth
University and an MA from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Basel. She is passionate about
access to music education and performance, and nurturing a love of classical music in those
new to it.