Rodrigo Almonte is a Peruvian–Irish guitarist, pianist, composer, and music educator based in Ireland. He is an active international performer and a fully funded PhD researcher in ethnomusicology at Dublin City University, where his research focuses on rhythm, improvisation, and Andean musical traditions.



He holds a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance (cum laude) from the Prins Claus Conservatory, where he specialised in contemporary jazz and improvised music. He has studied with and worked alongside some of the most influential jazz musicians of his generation, developing a strong artistic voice grounded in technical precision, rhythmic depth, and intercultural musical practice.

Rodrigo’s work has been recognised through numerous awards, scholarships, and institutional supports, including the Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council Artist in Residence (2022), Arts Council of Ireland Music Bursaries, Creative Ireland Bursary and a Dublin City University PhD Scholarship. His artistic projects have toured internationally and have received critical recognition from international media.

Alongside his performance and research activity, Rodrigo maintains an active teaching practice, drawing on extensive experience across academic, professional, and community music contexts.

Gemma Cox is a pianist and singer-songwriter from Naas. She is classically trained, receiving her licentiate diploma in piano teaching from the RIAM while completing her BA in French and Music in Trinity College Dublin. She is no stranger to a stage, as she performs her original music regularly and released her debut EP "Tall Stories" in December of last year. Gemma aims to foster an appreciation for music in her students, by connecting classical teaching methods with contemporary music.

Petar Krivitsky is an established multi-instrumentalist performer and music educator, born in Sofia, Bulgaria. His musical training spans classical, rock, jazz, and contemporary music traditions.
He graduated with professional certification from the “National School of Music - Lyubomir Pipkov” (Bulgaria), specialising in Classical Double Bass. He subsequently completed a dual Bachelor of Arts degree at the “National Academy of Music - Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia, followed by a one-year Erasmus exchange programme at Dublin City University (DCU), where he focused on Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance on double bass.

Petar has been actively involved in music from the age of ten, initially studying ukulele, electric and classical guitar. At fourteen, he expanded his focus to upright bass (double bass) and electric bass while continuing to develop his guitar performance. During his formative years, he participated in numerous national and international electric guitar competitions, achieving multiple first-place awards and receiving prizes, such as an electric guitar. In parallel, he competed successfully in classical double bass competitions, gaining significant performance experience. During this period, he was also active in rock and funk ensembles as an electric bass player.
In 2016, Petar performed in a fully coordinated live production with his neo-funk group in Bulgaria alongside American saxophonist Casey Benjamin, a member of the Robert Glasper Experiment, a Grammy Award-winning ensemble (Best R&B Album – Black Radio). In 2018, he toured the United States as a guitarist with his high school big band, performing in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the ensemble was awarded first place in an international jazz big band competition against American groups.

In recent years, Petar has been involved in various jazz and contemporary music projects, performing primarily on double bass and participating in international festivals. He has been actively teaching since 2023, working with students of all ages across several schools. His teaching approach combines strong technical foundations with creativity, stylistic awareness, and practical musicianship, supporting students in both academic and performance-based musical development.

Jamie Harrison is a drummer based in Newbridge, Kildare. Having started playing drums at age 12, Jamie was quickly thrust into professional settings having started gigging from the age of 13. For many years, Jamie has played with various bands as well as regular session work for many artists and platforms, including Sexy Tadhg, Brake Loose and most recently Blandad and Soundform Media.

Jamie graduated from BIMM with first class honours in Commercial Modern Music where he honed his skills in various styles including Jazz, Rock, Blues, Funk and Metal, as well as honing in and refining more specialised techniques. During this time Jamie also played as part of the DUT Wind Ensemble Orchestra for 2 years as a full time member.

Award-winning soprano Ioana Constantin Pipelea is a graduate of M.A in Music Performance and B.A in Mus Performance at RIAM and Trinity College Dublin. Ioana is a professional opera singer, she performed as a soloist with the RTÉ NSO at NCH Dublin, Wexford Festival Opera at National Opera House, Lismore Opera Festival, Ulster Orchestra, Associate Artist at NI Opera 2021-2022 etc. In 2022 Ioana won the 2nd Prize at Corsica Lirica International Singing Competition in France. Ioana also completed the Diploma in Music Teaching and Performing at RIAM and DCU

Leon Sweeney is a versatile guitarist with a background in trad and folk accompaniment and a strong interest in Jazz, Soul and RnB. He is currently pursuing a degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music in DCU with the ambition of becoming a session musician. Coming from a musical family, Leon has extensive recording experience and has begun exploring original composition. Leon has been teaching guitar for over five years, and enjoys both one-on-one and group tuition.

Sallins musician Anna Sweeney is a fiddle/violin player, composer and arranger. Anna learned fiddle from the age of seven, finding her love for trad through attendance at traditional Irish music summer schools around the country. She is currently a member of the Kildare Youth Folk Orchestra, directed by Ernestine Healy. As well as arranging for orchestra, Anna is composing material for her second EP, having released her debut recording First Drop in 2024. Anna studied classical and Jazz violin under Rudy Bado and Trad fiddle under Jenny Dillon amongst others.

Kostya Miles is a violin teacher with experience in one-to-one violin lessons and classroom teaching. He teaches in a number of locations across Kildare. He started a bachelors degree in music at the Cork School of Music in 2018 in which he gained experience in performance, orchestration and conducting. Kostya continued with his education and completed a Professional Masters in Education at UCD in 2022. He developed skills in classroom management and teaching.


Kostya has been involved with a number of orchestras throughout his education. During his bachelors degree he joined the Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra conducted under Conor Palisar, and the Cork Concert Orchestra who at the time was conducted by David Brophy. Kostya joined the County Kildare Orchestra in 2024.


Kostya’s main instruments are violin, viola and piano, with experience in all genres and levels. Kostya has experience preparing students for RIAM and ABRSM exams.