Laurice Van Den Oosten
Founder & Director | Piano, Ukulele & Art Tutor
With over 10 years experience as a piano teacher, Laurice has built the school from the ground up. I have provided piano tuition for students of all ages and abilities from beginners taking their first steps in music through to students preparing for formal examinations and performances.Alongside private tuition I have experience teaching in schools and hosting a range of other events over the years.
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".
Barry Keavney
General Manager | Guitar Tutor
Meet Barry, a passionate musician with over 20 years of experience playing guitar. His journey has taken him through various bands, open mics, and jamming sessions, allowing him to cultivate a diverse range of skills and playing styles. While his primary focus is teaching guitar, Barry is also equipped to provide lessons in ukulele and bass for those eager to learn. Join him to explore the joy of music and enhance your playing abilities!
Avril Kneafsey
Flute, Piano & Whistle Tutor
Avril Kneafsey is a composer, flautist and pianist from Swinford. Holding a BA (Hons) Music and an MAComposition and Creative Music Practice, Avril has been involved in music since an early age and is proficient in both Classical and Irish Traditional Music. Since starting music, Avril has been involved in several ensembles including Mayo Youth Orchestra, Castlebar Concert Band, University of Galway Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Waves and Mayo Concert Orchestra. She hopes to use her experience from these ensembles to form ones of her own in WAMS. Avril has worked with an array of professional musicians and ensembles to bring her compositions to life in both Ireland and abroad. She is an active member of the Irish Composers Collective where she has been involved in a number of projects both as a composer and as a performer. Avril is an experienced Music Teacher having taught private lessons in Ireland and America as well as working as a Music Teacher in The United Arab Emirates. She has experience teaching Flute (both traditional and classical), Piano, Tin Whistle, Recorder and Music Theory and is open to welcoming students of all ages and abilities.
Breege Kilcullen
Art Tutor
Meet Breege, our wonderful art mentor at WAMS! a wealth of creativity and talent, Breege is here to guide you through various mediums and styles. As an artist experienced in many disciplines and with a keen interest in crafting, Breege is excited to help you unleash your artistic potential. Join us and let Breege inspire your creative journey! She will be running both children and adult classes throughout the year.
Roisín McNulty
Fiddle & Harp Tutor
Roisín McNulty is from Bunnacurry in Achill and has been playing fiddle since the age of 7. She is proficient in Fiddle, Harp and Classical Piano and tutors at various summer schools. She also teaches whistle and is open to welcoming students of all ages and levels. She has gone on to tutor students of her own who participate in Comhaltas and Royal Irish Academy exams and Fleadheanna Cheoil. She is an All-Ireland medal winner with Céili Band and Grúpaí Ceoil and is a qualified Primary School teacher working in Mayo. Roisín is very passionate about SCT exams and has recently qualified the TTCT Preparatory Course for these, she hopes to be able to coach some Ceilí Bands in the future too!
Sarah Burns
Piano, Guitar, Ukulele & Whistle Tutor
Hi everyone, my name is Sarah. I teach the piano, guitar, ukulele and whistle I first started learning the guitar when I was eight and continued to play ever since. After starting the guitar, I learned the piano which has been an amazing experience and the ukulele which I love. I really enjoy playing music, as it brings such joy and happiness into my life.I graduated with a BA in Music and German and am currently working as a Secondary School teacher in Ballinrobe. Throughout my experience in education, I have gained greatknowledge and experience that I look forward in putting into practice. I also look forward in meeting new students and admiring the progress they make as they aspire to be future musicians. Sarah is very passionate about helping those with disabilities and learning difficulties, she assists with July Provisions each year and makes a huge effort to be inclusive in her lessons.
Get in Touch
Westport Art & Music School
4 Shop Street,
Westport,
Co. Mayo
F28EW66
(098) 44 573 | (087) 463 1158