Ciara Dunbar- BMus, MA
Early Years Faculty, Head of Afterschool
Ciara is a Wexford native and started her musical journey from a young age when she was involved in traditional Irish Music. She started playing the tin whistle at 6 and moved on to the fiddle aged 10. Her music education progressed from there, studying violin in Wexford School of Music and with private tutors for the remainder of her grades. From 2008 until 2013, Ciara worked as a private violin teacher and set up a number of Leaving Certificate workshops in her area to help other students reach their full potential.
Ciara graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Maynooth University in 2012 where she majored in violin performance and minored in composition. During her time here, she was tutored by Sebastien Petiet on violin and worked with the Vanbrugh Quartet for chamber music masterclasses.
She has performed with the Maynooth University Orchestra and the Hibernian Orchestra. As well as violin, Ciara is a competent singer and has performed with the Dublin Bach Singers as an alto singer for a number of years. She obtained a Masters in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from University College Dublin in 2014 and has worked in a number of administrative and event roles within theatre and charities since.
Upon the arrival of her daughter in 2020, Ciara found a love for early years music and is very excited to be part of the Early Years Music team at the IIMS. Ciara is also faculty for the Mini Music Academy in Castleknock School of Music and and is a Camp Leader for our ‘Sounds Good’ camps which run through school holiday times. As well as her teaching, Ciara has worked with classicalkids.ie where she managed chamber music events in various locations on a weekly basis. She worked closely with some of Ireland’s top chamber music performers to deliver this experience to babies, toddlers and their grown up in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Musically speaking, Ciara is a lead vocal of an award-winning Barbershop chorus in North County Dublin. She plays fiddle and tin whistle and loves nothing more than getting involved in a session. Ciara regularly plays guitar and can accompany students on piano.
Ciara is very excited to be starting a new position with the Irish Institute of Music and Song as an Afterschool Teacher, where she will work closely with the team to deliver a top-class afterschool programme based around music. Ciara, herself can offer many workshops including violin lessons, singing with solfa, composition, music theory, conducting for beginners to name a few which will set any child up confidently for their own journey through music. She truly understands the value music can have on children; developing their cognitive, listening and concentration skills alongside enhancing their confidence through musical activities.
Email: ciarad@iims.ie