Biography

Following a degree in music education (Trinity College Dublin and DIT Conservatory of Music) and a master’s degree in choral conducting (Royal Irish Academy of Music), Lynsey Callaghan completed a PhD in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Since 2020, she has been Head of Programmes, Research and Academics at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Lynsey is passionate about providing opportunities for excellence in youth choral music. In 2024, she was appointed Principal Conductor of the UK’s National Youth Choir (9-15). She is the Director of the Belfast Philharmonic Youth and Chamber Choirs. In October 2017, Lynsey founded Dublin Youth Choir. Dublin Youth Choir aims to connect young people from across Dublin and the surrounding areas through the provision of choral music education. Both the Belfast Philharmonic Youth and Chamber Choirs and Dublin Youth Choir are rooted in a shared educational philosophy inspired by the Kodály approach, placing musicianship development at the core of their work. The two organisations have collaborated on various initiatives as the Cross Border Youth Choir.

Lynsey also enjoys working with adult and professional choirs. She is currently celebrating her tenth anniversary as Music Director of Tallaght Choral Society, where she has led a wide range of ambitious choral-orchestral projects. In professional level, she has served as chorus master for Chamber Choir Ireland, the country’s flagship professional vocal ensemble.

Since developing her pedagogical and musicianship skills at the Kodály Institute in Hungary, Lynsey has enjoyed numerous opportunities to work as a musicianship tutor at a national and international level. She has worked with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Irish Youth Choir, Ulster Youth Choir and Youth Choir Kenya.