Some insights into funeral music planning.
Naoise established Encore Occasions in 2007 alongside her successful international singing and touring career. She brings a unique and rich tapestry of 20 years experience to the Music Planning world; a background that spans music performance, theatre production, event management, public relations and luxury wedding planning. In each one of these areas, there is only one opportunity to execute perfection and Naoise takes that responsibility extremely seriously.
Vocally, Naoise is an especially versatile singer, having trained in both classical voice and in musical theatre at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, London. As a singer, she has performed on world stages from London, Berlin & New York to Hong Kong, Tokyo & Mexico. Her professional singing career started with Riverdance where she first performed that famous ethereal solo in Paris. In London, she won ‘RAM Singer of the Year’ awarded by the Directors of Les Miserables, and went on to perform alongside Dame Judi Dench at Drury Lane Theatre in London’s West End and at Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Naoise then set off to tour across almost every state in the USA with several different theatrical productions and concerts over the following years. Her powerful, emotive vocal and ability to cross musical genres with ease makes hers a popular voice for both industry associates and clients alike.
In her downtime from tour, Naoise continued to work with passion expanding Encore Occasions and undertook studies in both Public Relations (H DIP PRII) and Event Management (H DIP). She worked as a freelance PR & Marketing Consultant for theatre companies, produced stage shows and managed teams of performers & musicians for studio & TV recordings. Naoise worked alongside her former agent Julian Benson to produce his now famous annual Winter Wonderland Ball and during the pandemic, she took on the role of Senior Wedding Planner for a prominent luxury wedding business, guiding 100’s of couples through those tumultuous times and working to future-proof the planning of many destination & lavish weddings in Ireland. During all of this, Naoise continued to perform with Encore Occasions.
Naoise is widely regarded for her attention to the finest of details. Her ambition to create the very highest quality events underpins every step of her planning processes. Driven by innovation and a passion for originality, Naoise is continually adding new repertoire and adapting to changing music trends, whilst providing the most unique instrument combinations that are on offer in Ireland for ceremony music.
Now a Mum to her little daughter Éabha-Belle and a recent Bride herself (2023), Naoise has hung up her touring shoes and is keeping her feet firmly planted at home in Dublin. With her absolute love for quality music and the many ways it can be adapted to ‘fit the moment’, she considers it a true privilege to work with couples and families to make the most personal of memories at the times in life when it matters most.