Dublin-born Mary Lennon studied piano with Frank Heneghan at the College of Music, Dublin and with Christopher Elton in London, and participated in many masterclasses with teachers such as Bela Siki, John Ogden, Jacques Rouvier, Ruth Laredo, Frantisek Rauch and Ivan Klansky.  A graduate of University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and the University of London, Mary has wide performing experience as soloist and accompanist, has recorded for the national broadcasting station RTÉ, and was a major prizewinner at leading music festivals and competitions in Ireland and the U.K.  Her repertoire is broad ranging and she has a special interest in baroque and contemporary music.

Mary’s career has had a particular focus on piano teaching and music education, and she is a long-standing member of the Keyboard Faculty at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.  A former Head of Keyboard Studies at the Conservatory, Mary has enjoyed teaching a wide range of students, many of whom have been prizewinners in major competitions and now have successful careers in music. Mary is in demand as an adjudicator, regularly gives workshops and masterclasses and acts as external examiner for music institutions in Ireland and abroad.  She is a founder member and former Chairperson of EPTA Ireland (European Piano Teachers’ Association) and has played an active role in the association both nationally and internationally.  She also served for many years on the executive committee of Dublin Feis Ceoil (Ireland’s premier classical music festival).

Mary’s research interests include piano pedagogy, instrumental teacher education and practice-based research.  She has lectured and published on these subjects and regularly presents papers at national and international conferences.  Mary has also been involved in a number of European higher music education projects and was a member of the AEC (European Association of Conservatoires) Erasmus-funded Polifonia Working Groups on Instrumental/Vocal Teacher Education (2007-2010) and Assessment and Standards (2012-2015).  She was also a founder member of the ISME (International Society for Music Education) Forum for Instrumental and Vocal Teaching.

Mary is very much looking forward to serving on the jury for the 2018 Dublin International Piano Competition.