Dara de Cogan

became leader of the Irish Youth Orchestra in 1978 and represented his country in the European Community Youth Orchestra. He continued his studies at the Royal College of Music with Jaraslav Vanecek. In 1982 he joined the Hallé Orchestra and became Principal Second Violin in 1986. Alongside his orchestral work, Dara runs his own Irish band, Delginis, and he was the String Coach and Artistic Director for the Hebridean Youth Project Summer Music School. Dara was appointed Head of Strings at Ampleforth College in 2004 and continues coaching various youth orchestras, as well as private individual tuition.