St. Broghan's National School Music Collaborative
Emsona LIVE
Harmonising Generations
The Emsona LIVE Music Collaborative
In County Kildare, a unique symphony is being composed—not just of notes, but of voices, generations, and shared heritage. The Emsona LIVE – St. Broghans National School Music Collaborative exemplifies the transformative power of inclusive arts education.
This project is a holistic ecosystem, not a single event. It begins months in advance, driven by the dedicated preparation of classroom teachers and 50 students (aged 5–8). Established by Adele O’Dwyer in 2022, the Emsona music programme empowers educators to teach music fluency regardless of their prior experience. Throughout the school year, teachers utilise tailored resources to build a solid foundation of confidence and skill. This rigorous, year-long groundwork is the engine that fuels the collaborative magic to come.
The initiative converges when these prepared classrooms meet a diverse ensemble of professional musicians. This multi-faceted collaboration bridges the gap between educator, learner, and artist. Students transition from passive observers to active creators alongside mentors who guide them in interpreting emotion through song and instrument. The project culminates in a public performance and display of creative work on 10 June.
Emsona LIVE proves that when teachers, students, and artists unite, music becomes a universal language connecting us all.
St. Broghan's National School, located in Bracknagh, Rathangan in County Kildare, is a Catholic primary school serving boys and girls from the local community. The school takes its name from St. Broghan, a 7th-century monk who established a monastery in the nearby area of Clonsast, connecting the school to a rich local heritage that spans over 1,400 years.
Aoife is a singer from County Westmeath. Having graduated from TU Dublin with a Bacholor of Music, specialising in Pedagogy, and later from UCD with a Masters in Irish she is currently a member of the folk duo, We're Not Together.
Aoife has performed on all the song soundtracks of the Emsona Music Education Platform and is delighted to be part of the Emsona team where she has the opportunity to fuse music, Irish, and education.
Bogdan Şofei is a highly celebrated, Bucharest-born violinist, founding first violinist of the internationally renowned ConTempo Quartet and concertmaster of the Luminosa String Orchestra. Born in Romania, he studied at the University of Music in Bucharest and later refined his craft at the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Banff Centre in Canada, and the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid. He also holds a Master of Arts in Music with First Class Honours from the Cork School of Music.
Bogdan became an Irish citizen in 2011 and in recognition of his massive contribution to the cultural landscape of his adopted country, he was awarded a Doctor of Music (DMus) honoris causa by the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Ms. O’Dwyer holds both BA and MA degrees in music performance and won professional orchestral posts on both sides of the Atlantic including the National Symphony of Ireland and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Having performed with the Opera Theatre Company and Dublin Film Orchestras, Adele toured and recorded with the Irish traditional band, De Danann.
As a composer, Adele is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre in Dublin and composes and arranges all performance scores and learning resources for the Emsona. As founder of the Scoil Mobhí (Dublin) instrumental music programme, Tullamore Classical Music School, and now, Emsona, Adele has played an active role in the development of youth music since 1993.
My professional musical journey began in Vilnius, Lithuania. With a Master’s Degree in Performing Arts from the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy and many years of experience as a pianist, accompanist, and educator, I am passionate about sharing my musical knowledge and contributing to a vibrant musical community.
I worked as a piano teacher and accompanist, collaborating with choirs, instrumentalists, and vocalists across a wide range of musical settings. I actively participated in national and international concerts and competitions, gaining valuable performance experience and developing a strong understanding of collaborative musicianship.
My work as an accompanist has allowed me to support and inspire performers of varying ages and abilities, while my teaching experience has strengthened my ability to foster musical growth, confidence, and technical skill in students. I am committed to creating a positive and encouraging learning environment that nurtures both musical excellence and a lifelong appreciation for music.
In 2003, I moved to Ireland and settled in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, where I have continued to work within the professional music field. Since relocating, I have remained dedicated to performance, accompaniment, and music education, bringing both international experience and cultural diversity to my work. I value collaboration and enjoy working with students, singers, instrumentalists, and musical groups to achieve artistic and educational goals.