Since 2021, Irish pianist DearbhlaCollins, has been Head of Artistic Administration at the National Opera Studio in London having previously held the position of Assistant Head of Music there.
She is highly regarded internationally as a song pianist; performances include concerts with sopranos Juliane Banse, Anna Devin and Fatma Said; mezzo-sopranos Tara Erraught, Angela Brower, Ann Murray and the late Bernadette Greevy; tenors Dean Power, Paul McNamara and Mark Padmore; baritones Benjamin Appl and Will Thomas.
These performances include recitals throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe, the US and China.
Dearbhla was the moving force behind the 2003 Dublin Hugo Wolf Festival, when under her artistic direction the complete songs of the Austrian composer were performed for the first time in Ireland.
Other notable projects under her direction include the acclaimed performance of the three operas known as the “Irish Ring” at the Royal Dublin Society, for whom she was opera consultant.
She also founded the Dublin Song Series in 2013 and continues to curate it in partnership with the National Concert Hall and the Hugh Lane Gallery.
Alongside her work in London and Dublin, Dearbhla collaborates with vocal teachers and mentors worldwide, notable amongst these are Dame Ann Murray, Maris McLaughlin and Brigitte Fassbaender.
She has played for masterclasses for Sir Thomas Allen, Joyce di Donato, Sergei Leiferkus amongst others. She coaches at Mascarade Opera Studio, Florence, Royal College of Music, London, and has coached also at Jerwood Young Artist Programme, Glyndebourne, the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, Opera North, Leeds, Universität für Musik, Vienna, and the Beijing Central Conservatory.
As vocal coach at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, Dearbhla works with the degree students, particularly the advanced Masters students, on all aspects of a vocal career, concentrating mainly on language, artistry, imagination and performance skills.
She also performs with these students in in-house and public examinations and recitals.
At the National Opera Studio, London, Dearbhla takes this mentorship to the next level where she works with the Young Artists there who are about to embark on International careers.
She works with both the singers and pianists at NOS and helps them with advanced musical coaching and also connections into the industry worldwide.
As Executive Artistic Director of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Dearbhla works alongside such guest jury members as Richard Bonynge, Peter Carwell, Ileana Cotrubas, John Gilhooly, Olga Kapanina, Marie McLaughlin, Steven Naylor, Tobias Truniger and Christine Scheppelmann.
Past prizewinners of the competition have included Nadine Sierra, Fatma Said, Will Thomas, Tara Erraught, Will Liverman, Simon O’Neill and Pumeza Matshikiza.
Dearbhla was a member of the Board of the National Concert Hall, Dublin from 2010 – 2015, having previously served two terms on the Board of Culture Ireland.
In October 2017 Dearbhla was awarded an honorary doctorate for her services to music in Ireland from the National University of Ireland.