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I always had a passion for singing - ever since I was a little girl I never stopped singing around the house. I wanted to be on Eurovision representing Ireland and was constantly belting out Linda Martin 'Why Me' and Niamh Kavanagh 'In Your Eyes'!! The neighbours must have hated me. I was one of those children that joined every activity possible and found violin lessons at the age of 10, which I loved. This led to flute and piano lessons and a realisation that I wanted to be involved in all things musical. I was a member of many choirs and orchestras and always felt happy when I was performing and practicing.

What were the personal highlights of your doctoral research?

One of the highlights of my Doctoral Research was having Prof. Susan Hallam as my supervisor. I couldn't believe I was lucky enough to have such a wonderful lady directing me in my work.

It was also a huge journey for me. My degree and masters were mostly performance related - I was primarily a classical flautist and pop singer so I felt completely out of my depth. After attending the first couple of research weeks I didn't believe I could complete it successfully. It seemed like everyone else in my class had much more experience than me and were much more comfortable debating the topics we were discussing in lectures. I felt shy and sometimes quite stressed about being there! However, the support from staff at the IOE was very encouraging, as was the support from my husband who always believed I could do it.

This all helped my self-belief immensely along the way. When my submissions for the taught modules were corrected I was surprised and very happy to realise that I was able for this course and it encouraged me to work harder and aim high. I also loved the research topics and obviously learned an incredible amount about research practices and teaching methodologies, which have made me a better teacher. It has no doubt inspired my teaching and urged me to make the music school I run the best it can possibly be. It was also quite wonderful to work with international vocal coaches for my final thesis - all of the research I carried out was directly related to the work I was doing on a daily basis - it has made me the teacher I am today and I am very proud of that.

How were you selected to be a vocal coach on The Voice of Ireland? What do you enjoy most about the experience?

There was an interview process and happily I was selected! It was a dream come true. This job was one of my goals! To say I was happy was an understatement. Saying that, I did feel like I was the perfect person for the job. I had spent the previous few years finishing my thesis entitled "The understanding of contemporary vocal pedagogy and the teaching methods of internationally acclaimed vocal coaches". I had worked with American Idol, The Voice UK, and X Factor vocal coaches as well as world-renowned authors and teachers of singing - and was generally obsessed with all things relating to singing, CCM (Contemporary Commercial Music), the teaching of this style, the differences between classical and CCM and the myths associated with the teaching of singing.

I love working with the contestants, helping them to perform a song with emotion, passion and vocal freedom. I love showing them how to look after their voices, how to build up the muscle and increase their vocal stamina. I love exploring new ways of performing the song and helping them make it their own. But most of all I love singing and performing and having the opportunity to work with singers who are performing every week on live television is exciting and you become totally immersed in the process. There couldn't be a more interesting and enjoyable job for me (other than the teaching I do at my school in Cork!).

What advice would you give to recent graduates looking to follow in your footsteps?

Decide what your goals are and work hard to make them happen. Believe that you can do it - it may take time but it will happen if you have put in the work. Equip yourself with as many tools and skills as you can. Gain experience in as many aspects of your area as possible. Be nice to work with and be helpful. Don't expect anything - be grateful for everything. Never stop seeking knowledge. Always aim to be the best version of yourself that you can be and aim high!