Dare To Sing! Workshop Facilitators 2026

Dare to Sing! is back with another incredible line-up of facilitators ready to inspire, challenge and get us singing…

We’re bringing together an incredible mix of vocal coaches, choir directors, performers, musicians, songwriters and creative facilitators from Ireland and beyond, each bringing something completely different to the weekend. From pop, rock and gospel to musical theatre, classical voice, songwriting, beatboxing, vocal technique and community singing, our 2026 facilitators are here to help you learn, experiment, build confidence and discover just how much your voice can do. Whether you’re a seasoned singer or simply love to sing, get ready to learn from some seriously brilliant people, meet the Dare to Sing! 2026 facilitators…

To find out more about the Dare to Sing Choral Festival itself click here

Craig Lees

Craig is an internationally renowned contemporary vocal coach, choral director and arranger. He will be working with pop and rock choir and with soloists and we cant wait - we never cease to be amazed by what we learn from Craig! We have had him every year at our choral festival because you keep asking to bring him back - you ask and we deliver!!

Declan Davies

Declan is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, arranger and Lecturer in Songwriting at Leeds Conservatoire. He has delivered songwriting and choral workshops internationally and works with artists, writers and record labels across the music industry. Craig and Declan have become firm Dare to Sing favourites—and anyone who has worked with them before will understand why! This year Declan will also be offering songwriting and soloist workshops.

Tim Uffindell

Tim is an internationally highly experienced vocal coach, choir director and workshop facilitator specialising in gospel and community singing. He has led mass choirs and festival sessions across the UK and Europe, bringing the same commitment and energy to every group he meets.

His warm, holistic and inclusive approach helps singers develop healthy vocal skills, build confidence and sing with freedom and passion. Tim has a remarkable ability to bring a room of people together and have them creating something powerful in a very short space of time. We cant wait to have him join us for the first time - we will give him the best SUSO welcome!

Ross Scanlon

Ross is a professional tenor, vocal specialist and Lecturer in Musical Theatre Voice at MTU Cork School of Music. He is also a member of the Vocal Faculty at The Lir Academy, Trinity College Dublin, and an examiner with the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

His career spans opera, concert performance, musical theatre and professional vocal coaching. His students have gone on to perform in the West End, the Abbey Theatre, the National Concert Hall, Cork Opera House and on international stages. He will be specialising in musical theatre at our festival this year as well as working with individuals! We cant wait!

Eimear Crehan

Eimear is the founder and Director of SpeakUp SingOut, the creator and host of Dare to Sing, and an acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter, performer, choir director and creativity coach.

Alongside her own recording and touring career, Eimear specialises in working with stage fright, creative blocks, anxiety and people who have been told—or have convinced themselves—that they cannot sing. Her work is grounded in a fierce belief that every person has a voice and deserves the chance to use it.

Susan O’Brien

Susan is a singer, vocal coach, choir director and arranger—and the much-loved co-leader of the SUSO HarMammies, as well as both our Enfield and Straffan choirs.

Having spent almost two decades performing at ceremonies, studying jazz and exploring songwriting and recording, Susan now specialises in helping singers build confidence and find their own unique sound. She has a particular love of harmony, backing vocals and creating clever, satisfying arrangements for choirs. She will be sharing some of that expertise with us at this years festival!

Claire Crehan

Claire is a community music teacher, pianist, composer, performer and choral facilitator, and one of the founders of Speak Up Sing Out Music School. She creates bespoke arrangements shaped around the people who will actually sing them. Claire holds first-class honours degrees in music and classical piano performance, and previously worked as resident musical director for international touring productions including The World of Musicals, Celtic Nights and The International Magic Tenors.

She also runs Music Medicine, a voice work and sound healing programme exploring the transformative power of voice and breath, and will be bringing a taster of this work to this year's festival.

Anastasia Inniss

Anastasia is an international soprano, vocal educator, director, producer and arts leader with more than 25 years of experience teaching voice, vocal repertoire and vocal pedagogy.

She is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Opera Programs Berlin and Dramatic Voices Program Berlin, as well as the founder of the Lanzarote Opera Festival and Academy. Her work combines a deep understanding of how the voice functions with creativity, individuality and artistic expression across classical music and musical theatre. We will be learning about solo singing, opera and vocal health from Anastasia!

Rachel Dempsey

Rachel is a singer, ethnomusicologist, educator, community builder and wellbeing facilitator. She is the founder of Full Circle Change and previously created Global Harmonies, bringing community singing and singing-for-wellbeing workshops to individuals and organisations in Ireland and internationally.

Rachel’s work explores the ability of music to connect people, create belonging and support meaningful change. She brings warmth, curiosity and a wealth of experience in bringing groups together through shared song.

Zach Brosnan & DBS

Zach Brosnan & DBS are Irish Beatbox Champions and will represent Ireland in the solo category at the next World Beatbox Championships.

Ireland’s most exciting beatboxers, Zach & DBS create an extraordinary range of rhythms, sounds and musical effects using only the human voice. Their presence at Dare to Sing brings a completely different dimension to the festival, and the chance to explore rhythm, vocal creativity and what the voice can do far beyond traditional singing.

Learn more about Dare to Sing! Workshops here