Our Team

Pauline has an MA in Cultural Policy and Arts Management (UCD), a BMusEd (TCD) and is a certified Project Management Professional. She studied voice in her undergrad, but her love of backstage and arts management was greater than any desire to become a performer.

In 2022, she joined INO as an Accounts Bookkeeper, where she applies her expertise to contribute to the organisation's financial success.

Previous PR & Marketing positions were held at Opera Theatre Company, The Hawk's Well Theatre, Audecon Audience Development Agency and Eumark Database Management. Sorcha's background in the Arts includes work with dha ean Theatre Company, Corcadorca Theatre Company, Blue Raincoat Theatre Company & Graffiti Theatre Company.

In 2015 she founded Ériu Artist Management, providing consultancy and project management for a range of clients including the vocal ensemble Gallicantus, the Choral Scholars of University College Dublin and the professional choir ORA. Prior to joining Irish National Opera in December 2020, she was the Fundraising and Events Manager for the UK-based charity and record label, Opera Rara.

Originally from Switzerland, he has held executive positions at Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Theatre Company, The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Rough Magic Theatre Company. He occasionally uses his linguistic skills as a freelance translator. He holds an M.Phil. in Irish Literature from Trinity College Dublin.

Lea holds a MA in Arts Management from NUI Galway, a BA in Music and History from Maynooth University and has recently completed an Associate Certificate in Graphic Design at the Dublin Institute of Design. She is a keen musician and studied singing under Virginia Kerr and Regina Nathan, toured the world with the Maynooth University Chamber Choir and has been a member of other acclaimed ensembles, including Peregryne and Anúna.

In 2019 Ciarán completed a Certificate in Digital Marketing with DBS whilst working for the restaurant software startup. From there, Ciaran went on to join The Lir Academy in 2021 as its Marketing Officer. Following this Ciarán went on to work in one of Irelands top Talent Agencies, before joining the Irish National Opera team in 2024. Outside of INO, Ciarán is working on multiple theatre projects under the company name Ryots Productions as a director, designer and producer.

Jonathan Friend was born in London, England, and educated in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. He joined English National Opera in 1974, becoming the Archivist in 1977. In 1979 he became Company Manager for English National Opera North in Leeds. In 1981, he was invited by James Levine to come to the Metropolitan Opera, becoming Company Manager in 1982 and Artistic Administrator in 1984. He remained in that capacity for 36 years, working with two music directors and five general managers, being responsible for season planning, and for engaging singers and conductors. He then became Artistic Advisor to the Met from 2019 to 2025, completing a total of 44 years with that company. He was appointed Artistic Advisor to the Irish National Opera in Dublin in 2022, and Casting Consultant to the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm in 2024. He frequently serves as a judge on vocal competitions.

Sarah joined Irish National Opera in June 2018 after two years working on the digital team at Edelman PR, one of the world's largest marketing communications firms, developing and implementing digital communications strategies for clients such as Irish Distillers, Mars Ireland Foods and Pfizer.

She joined Opera Theatre Company in 2014 where she was responsible for the financial, contractual and reporting function on all productions. She holds a Bsc. Hons. in Human Resource Management & Certificate in Marketing (DIT).

After moving to Ireland in 1999, she worked as a stage manager for Anna Livia International Opera Festival, Northern Ireland Opera, Opera Ireland, Opera Theatre Company, Wexford Festival Opera and Wide Open Opera as well as theatre companies such as the Abbey Theatre, Druid Theatre Company and Rough Magic Theatre Company.

Anne holds a BA in Dramatic Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and postgraduate diplomas from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in Stage Management & Technical Theatre and Theatre Administration.

She also worked extensively on the Abbey’s 5x5 initiative and Unsolicited Script process. She has experience as a freelance theatre producer in Dublin and has toured award-winning shows to London and Edinburgh. She holds a B.A in English Literature from UCD.

A member of the team at the National Concert Hall, Dublin between 1998 and 2011, Gavin was House Manager and also worked in programming, with responsibility for NCH own promotions and special projects.

Gavin has been Director of the Sundays at Noon Concert Series at Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane for over 20 years. This weekly series has run since 1976, and is recognised for its support and promotion of both contemporary Irish composers and performers.

Other work has included managing and producing festivals (including Great Music in Irish Houses, the Clandeboye Festival, and New Music Dublin), touring orchestras internationally (Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra and Camerata Ireland), producing choral and early music projects around Ireland with the choir Resurgam, and contracting orchestras for soundtrack recordings.

Since 2012, he has worked primarily as project manager for the orchestra Camerata Ireland touring throughout Europe, the US, China and South America, and as executive producer for Wide Open Opera presenting new opera productions at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Gaiety Theatre, National Opera House Wexford and internationally at the Edinburgh Festival, The Royal Opera House, St Ann’s Warehouse NY and the Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg.

Having lived in Romania, the Netherlands, Canada, and now Ireland, Renata has accumulated experience in management, recruitment, journalism, and acting. Passionate about research, her academic expertise ranges from cultural studies and philosophy to European politics and cultural policy. Coupled with her love of the performing arts, Renata is interested in audience engagement, development, and structural supports for the arts.

She has an MA in Arts Administration and Contemporary Music from Goldsmith's College (University of London) and a Bachelor in Music Performance from TU Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama. She studied clarinet for her undergraduate degree, and still loves to perform for fun with Dublin Concert Band and other non-professional ensembles.

As conductor, Fergus Sheil has led many of Irish National Opera’s signature productions including Verdi’s Aida (2018), Brian Irvine and Netia Jones’ Least Like The Other (2019), Rossini’s La Cenerentola (2019), half of 20 Shots of Opera (2020), Strauss Elektra (2021), Beethoven Fidelio (2021), Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda (2022), Rossini’s William Tell (2022) and Strauss Der Rosenkavalier (2023).

Before 2018, he worked as Artistic Director of both Wide Open Opera and Opera Theatre Company (both of which became part of Irish National Opera). With these companies he conducted Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (2012), Raymond Deane’s The Alma Fetish (2013), John Adams’ Nixon in China (2014), Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore (2014), Verdi’s Rigoletto (2015), Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia (2016), Mozart’s Don Giovanni (2016) and Robert O’Dwyer’s Eithne (2017)– the first modern performance of the first opera composed in the Irish language (1909) which was released on CD on the RTÉ lyric fm label.

In the orchestral sphere Fergus Sheil has conducted many performances with the National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra. Repertoire has included tours of Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 Choral and Mahler’s Symphony No 2 Resurrection.

As a choral conductor Fergus collaborated with composer Arvo Pärt and the State Choir Latvija including the world première of Pärt’s The Deer’s Cry in 2008. He subsequently appeared with State Choir Latvija throughout Ireland with Pärt’s music in 2010. In 2013 he toured Ireland with the BBC Singers with Seven Last Words from the Cross by James MacMillan.

As well as performances at home in Ireland, Fergus has also undertaken engagements in the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, UK, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Malta and Estonia.

Fergus Sheil’s work as Artistic Director of opera has had many significant highpoints. He was a leading figure in the foundation of Irish National Opera in 2018 and has overseen an unprecedented programme of work in live performances, digital projects, audio recordings and filmed operas. He has produced 78 different operas, including works by major composers from Vivaldi to Wagner and 41 works by living composers.

www.fergussheil.com

Since 1991 she has worked extensively in opera, theatre and dance both in Ireland and abroad.

As company stage manager with Druid Theatre Company, Paula worked on numerous productions including The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Walworth Farce, DruidMurphy and DruidShakespeare.

She has toured nationally and internationally with Opera Theatre Company, CoisCéim Dance Theatre, Fishamble, Druid Theatre Company and Rough Magic Theatre Company.

Paula has also worked on numerous corporate events with the GAA, Leinster Rugby, the Ryder Cup and has been venue manager with Kilkenny Arts Festival, Galway International Arts Festival and Dublin Theatre Festival.

RJ holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from University College Dublin and a BA in French Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder. He studied at IES Abroad Nantes in France as a part of his undergraduate study. RJ is also a trained musician, having sung with groups including the Chœur Universitaire de Nantes, the Eklund Opera Program Chorus, and the UNC Concert Choir.