Micheila Connolly

Micheila enjoys performing as an accompanist and chamber musician. Her grandfather, Johann Tryggvason, nurtured her love of music at an early age. A natural musician, and talented pianist, he encouraged her love of the instrument.

Following her studies at Keele University and Cambridge University, she was offered a place on the post-graduate course in accompaniment at the Royal College of Music. She studied with her principal teacher, John Blakely, as well as with Roger Vignoles and Paul Hamburger. Awarded a studentship from the Leverhulme Trust, Micheila went on the répétiteur course at the Benjamin Britten International Opera School at the RCM.

Micheila has played for masterclasses with artistes including Sarah Walker, Gerald Finley and Dame Kiri te Kanawa, and worked as a répétiteur for many opera productions. She has performed in festivals and competitions, including Dartington, Aldeburgh and Utrecht, and held residences in the prestigious London hotels, the Connaught and Le Meridien Piccadilly.

She plays for a number of choirs and choral societies performing Mozart to Queen and Faure to Simon and Garfunkel.

Micheila has a particular interest in contemporary music and working with composers. She gave the first UK performance Dimitri Smirnov’s Music of the Spheres and is currently working with the violinist, Karen Cormican, on an album of music inspired by folk song. She has very much enjoyed the opportunity to explore and perform with Leon Bosch, new works and arrangements created for the double bass and piano.