I Dreamed a Dream

Helen Hancock sopano and the Triskel Ensemble

Join Helen Hancock and the Triskel Ensemble for an evening of popular classical music and opera, musical theatre numbers, Irish music and songs.

Known for the warm rapport she builds with the audience, soprano Helen Hancock is no stranger to St Columba's. Helen founded The Triskel Ensemble in 2025 to present concerts of classical music and opera with musical theatre and popular classics in a chatty, informal atmosphere. Expect well known pieces from Handel to Mozart, from Les Misérables to Chess, TV and movie themes from ET to Scent of a Woman, and from opera to Irish airs (with audience participation on occasion). There is literally something for everyone! The ensemble had a string of sold out concerts with standing ovations in 2025 in venues including The Mick Lally Theatre, Galway and The Mount Carmel Concert Series, Loughrea. Their recent performance in Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin on Mother's Day was another hugely popular sell out.

Helen Hancock is an acclaimed Galway based soprano and recording artist who has sung in venues and festivals all over Ireland and in Germany, notably in 2024 as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24. Her debut album TOGETHERNESS with German pianist Paul Cibis was recorded following this performance and has been released on Navona Records. It features rarities of German lieder alongside settings of Schumann, Strauss and Schubert, new music by living Irish composers Anne-Marie O'Farrell and Criostóir Ó Loingsigh (including songs in the Irish language) alongside art songs by Thomas Moore, Ina Boyle and Benjamin Britten. The CD is available for purchase on the night.

Having taught at Coole Music and Arts for 12 years, Helen now focusses on performance while maintaining a small private singing studio. She is also a choral conductor and resident artist with Galway Education Centre delivering residences to primary schools. Helen gives choral workshops focusing on ageing voices which are proving very popular with choirs nationwide.

Subscribe to her newsletter here : www.helenhancocksoprano.com

José Scolaro is a Venezuelan violinist trained within El Sistema, the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela. A founding member of the Chamber Orchestra of Venezuela and long-standing member of the world famous Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, he has performed internationally across the Americas, Europe and Asia. For over four decades, he has devoted his career to musical education, mentoring generations of young musicians — including internationally renowned conductors — and collaborating with leading artists and institutions worldwide. He is one of the many Venezuelan musicians who has continued his artistic and pedagogical mission abroad, carrying forward the legacy of Maestro José Antonio Abreu through music, excellence, and social commitment. Currently, he is teaching at Coole Music and Arts, Athenry Music School and MCNG in Galway.

Thomas Murphy studied music at UCC and plays violin and viola. He has taught violin and viola in Coole Music and Arts and Athenry Music School for many years and is a very active chamber musician as well as a member of Galway’s professional orchestra Luminosa. Thomas recently completed his BSc in counselling and is also a part-time farmer.

Katharina Baker was born and raised in Lübeck, Germany. In 1996 she started her studies in Musicology, followed by Violin/Viola, String Pedagogy and Ensemble Conducting at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden. After graduating with an MA in 2002, she moved to Ireland with her young family where she founded Coole Music & Arts in 2005, which since has grown into a vibrant music school with over 200 instrumental students and 5 orchestras, numerous chamber groups, performance projects and cultural exchanges throughout the year. In 2012 she started www.katbak.com as a platform to share her scores with the world. Katharina spends her working time between teaching, conducting, playing, composing and arranging music as well as presenting workshops/lectures at International conferences.

Born in Hungary, Eszter Cetinceviz has over 20 years’ experience as a professional orchestral and chamber musician. She acquired her Master’s Degree at The University of Miskolc Bartók Béla Institute of Music, where she studied with Klára Iván and started her career as a member of The Miskolc National Theatre Orchestra. Later on, she joined the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra Miskolc. The Orchestra regularly played at international festivals and in notable concert halls worldwide. They were also constant performers at the Bartók Plus Opera Festival of Miskolc. She has performed many concerts with string quartets and chamber orchestras. Now based in Galway, Eszter is also a member of the Ivernia String Quartet and Trio, established by Sinead Hayes. Currently, she is teaching cello at Coole Music and Arts and MCNG in Galway.