Biography

Colette is an experienced musician who started learning Irish and Classical music when she was six; acheived top grades in both GCSE and A level music, and grade 8 in both Traditional Irish Music and classical violin.

She has played in many bands since the age of 8 and competed in both local, regional, All England and All Ireland Fléadhs, gaining awards in both solo, band and group chéoil competitions.

In July 2000, Colette passed her Teaching Diploma in Traditional Irish Music from Comhaltas Ceoltóiré Éireann, in Dublin after successfully completing an extensive course of practical and theory examinations. In preparation for this diploma, she assisted at music classes, taught Irish music at a primary school as part of their extra curricular activities and was a tutor at the Irish Music summer workshops at Hammersmith and Fulham Irish Centre for three years.

Colette has toured extensively with many companies. She went to Sweden and Finland as a fiddle player with the hugely successful Irish Folk Ballet Company followed by performances on the Baltic Sea cruising circuit as well as playing to sell out shows in Sweden, Finland and Norway.

Colette was a member of the National Dance Company of Ireland for nearly two years, where she was lead musician in 'Rhythm of the Dance' - a two hour show of music, dance and song. The show toured extensively throughout Europe and for most of 2001, the company were on a world tour visiting South America, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. They then spent seven months touring Australia before returning to Europe to finish the tour, playing to audiences with an average size of 1000+. New Year's Eve 2001 she played in China on a live television show, broadcast to over 2 billion viewers worldwide.

Colette has also worked for the BBC Concert Orchestra and is currently involved in teaching Irish music at community venues as well as schools in Hertfordshire and four boroughs in London. This includes whole class teaching as well as small group work during the school day. There are also after school Irish Music classes running at a number of schools.