Our Team
Nicole Gannon
Guitar, Ukulele and Banjo tutor
"Hi, my name is Nicole Gannon and I am the Ukulele and Guitar tutor here in Westport Art and Music School. I joined the team in 2019 and have enjoyed watching all my students blossom into accomplished and talented musicians.
Music has always been a huge part of my life from busking on the streets, to gigging in the local pubs in Westport, and to performing at all kinds of concerts and special events.
Aside from my work in WAMS I am also a primary school teacher so I am passionate about helping others discover their potential and develop that to the best of their ability"
Carrie Coleman
Voice Coach
"Hi my name is Carrie and I am the school's Singing Tutor based here in Westport. I joined the team in 2020 with the aim of guiding my students to reach their full singing potential.
With a singing background spanning over 15 years, Carrie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Voice from The British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM).
She has performed in a number of singing Féis’s throughout the years and in 2009 she competed at The World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles as a part of Team Ireland.
She teaches all levels and she loves encouraging her students to develop and strengthen their singing voices through creative singing games, techniques, stage performance and working on the songs they’re passionate about from everything such as pop music to musical theatre"
Grainne Coyne
Button Accordion
"Hi everyone,
My name is Gráinne Coyne. I am a button accordion player
from Co. Mayo. I have been an accordion tutor in Westport Arts &
Music School since February 2020. I was delighted when given the
opportunity to join this team as Laurice has created a warm, friendly
& welcoming environment at WAMS & it creates a sense of
enthusiasm as soon as you walk in the door. I love to teach music
because music in general brings such joy to my life & has had a huge
influence on me as a person. I look forward to meeting new students
& admiring the progress they make, as they grow into aspiring young
musicians"
I graduated with a BA Hons Music degree in 2015, from
Waterford Institute of Technology & later that year was asked to
travel to Newfoundland, Canada as part of the Newfoundland Irish
Connections Festival. We travelled around various parts of Canada,
performing at several venues throughout, meeting new people &
learning about the culture. I returned again in 2017 as part of the same
group. I found the experience very beneficial during both tours & I
have gained great knowledge from the musicians I have had the
pleasure of meeting along the way.
Colin Mulligan
Guitar/Keys/Voice
"Hey, my name is Colin
I'm currently in my third year of Vocal studies
in BIMM Dublin, I am a passionate vocalist
who loves to help others improve and
continue to develop along the way.
Growing up, music and singing was
always a huge part of my life, whether it be
musical drama, gigging and recording or
just jamming, I was always involved and
teaching at WAMS allows me to translate
that to others and do what i love to do the
most!"
Jenny Ferson
Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, Voice
"Hello, I'm Jenny and I'm delighted to be a part of the Westport Art and Music School's team. Piano has been a huge part of my life since I was a young age. I was trained in classical but I particularly love playing popular music chords and singing.
I have a Diploma in Piano and a BA Degree in Music.
I have been teaching piano for 6 years now and I love it. I love encouraging my students to have fun and enjoy the music, as well as feeling the emotion. I teach a mix of classical and popular music. The student and I can always discover what music they really love and they will be able to learn any song!
I really believe in each student and we can work together to help them grow their piano and music skills.
Seeing my students progress into talented musicians makes me so proud."
Lilia Iontcheva
Mixed Percussion
Hi ,my name is Lilia
I am percussionist and percussion tutor.
I have been playing music since I was 5y old.
For the past 16 years I have been leading various percussion projects,jazz bands and orchestras ,delivering body percussion, Samba and Djembe workshops all
over UK and Europe.
My educational book/resource called ‘Djembe drums for everyone’ was published by the biggest education publisher in UK and used for resource in various Schools in London.
Playing and studying Percussion is fun and joyful experience for all ages .
Do not hesitate to join;)
David Ellis
Mandolin, Fiddle, Bodhran, Whistle
Hay, my name is David, music has been a big part of my life since the early 80's , instruments include, tin whistle, low whistle, violin, mandolin and bodhran. I'm happy to be joining Westport Art and Music School.
Music has taken me to many countries around Europe with our band Last Nights Seisiún,
Playing in festivals and promoting our CD
Last Nights Seisiún Live.
Helping others to enjoy and develop music is an enjoyable part of being a musician,
And WAMS gives me that opportunity.
I look forward to meeting up and coming musicians and pass on my love and knowledge of music.
" A world without Music would B♭"
More About Us
The Westport Art & Music School was founded in 2019 by Musician/Artist Laurice Van Den Oosten, a school leaver who wanted to help others find they're calling in life through the arts. Laurice was not a very academic student and felt a huge absence of support for the creative, more hands on students who had no idea how the industry works or where to start. Leaving school, she had no idea what she wanted to do.
"A year of experimentation and finding myself and meeting people like me made me realise what I was good at and what I wanted to do".
The opening of WAMS is solely aimed at providing courses, mentoring and most importantly, jobs to those in the same predicament. Covering 30+ services ages 4yrs-60yrs+ and that's saying something..
"Teaching is such a rewarding job, and I can easily say I now have the career I always dreamed of".