Yvonne Donnelly

Yvonne Donnelly began playing the violin with Father Brendan Mc Nally at the age of eight, and later at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with David Lillis, Colin Stavely and Patricia Higgins. She continued her studies with some tuition from Yfrah Neaman at Bury St Edmunds. She also attended master classes by Igor Ozim at Snape Maltings and Edinburgh. 

As a freelance player, Yvonne has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and is a founding member of the Father McNally Chamber Orchestra. 

Since attending the English String Teachers’ Association Summer School at Bath with Roger Raphael and at Warwick University with Sheila Nelson, Yvonne has built up a considerable body of experience over the past thirty years. Her teaching principles are based on the teaching of Carl Flesch and Ivan Galamian in their two standard works The Art of Violin Playing and The Principles of Violin Playing and Teaching. This approach is supplemented by some ideas of Paul Rolland and Sheila Nelson. 

Yvonne has developed her talent especially in the area of teaching very young children, encouraging them in their efforts, and making the process of learning an enjoyable experience. She devotes her energies and teaching skills towards the development of pupils, supporting them towards the realization of their full music potential.