In Loving Memory of Professor Mary Brennan

We are deeply saddened to share the news that beloved vocal faculty member Professor Mary Brennan passed away last evening, following a short illness.

Mary joined the RIAM in 2007, following her retirement from TUDublin. She was a vivacious, knowledgeable, collegial and dedicated teacher, pouring endless levels of support into her students. In recent years, her French song classes meant that even more vocal students had access to her specialist skill and knowledge. 

As a colleague, Mary was full of wit thanks to her wry, and dry, sense of humour. In addition to her undoubted achievements as a teacher (nurturing many of Ireland's outstanding professional singers), she was an advocate for voice and the Arts in Ireland, with a presence on committees such as Feis Ceoil, the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition and more.

Her passing is a huge loss and tragedy to her family, the community in RIAM and in TUDublin. We are grateful that we had her wonderful presence in our lives nonetheless.

Details of her funeral will be on rip.ie in due course.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam. 

Professor Mary Brennan 

Mary Brennan was a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music. She served as a lecturer at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama from 1987 to 2007. She taught in the Vocal Studies Faculty of the Royal Irish Academy of Music from 2007, working primarily with Bachelor, Masters, and Doctorate students. Mary also delivered French Song Classes for 3rd and 4th Year Undergraduates, as well as Recital Artist students.

Mary held the position of Senior Lecturer at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester from 2002 to 2007 and was a Visiting Professor at the Opera Studio in Ghent from 1998 to 2003. She also served as a visiting lecturer for Senior and Master students at the School of Fine Arts of the University of Connecticut in 2013.

Many of Mary’s former students at the RIAM have gone on to enjoy successful performing careers, including Naomi O’Connell, Rachel Kelly, Claudia Boyle, Dean Power, Gavan Ring, Sarah Brady, and Padraic Rowan. Among her emerging professional students, in recent years, three of her class were awarded the prestigious Royal Dublin Society Bursary of €15,000, a highly competitive award open to Keyboard, Strings, Wind, and Brass players as well.