Sonya Murphy-Lyons:

Sonya Murphy-Lyons of Mezzo Music Academy began her musical journey as a young child, learning Piano at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She commenced Classical guitar lessons at the age of 8, and studied under Tony Lee for a number of years, completing all her grades in the Trinity College London exams syllabus.

Having successfully auditioned to continue her Classical Guitar studies under the tutelage of John Feely, Sonya then studied part time at the College of Music in to her 20’s, and achieved her Licentiate Diploma during this time.

With music in her heart from a young age, Sonya continued with piano lessons and sang in a community choir for many years, performing at various recitals and concerts in Dublin before embarking on a Music Degree at UCD. She studied under Professors Harry White, Seóirse Bodley and Thérèse Smith, and graduated with a BMus (Hons) degree.

Sonya began teaching Classical Guitar while studying in UCD and for many years afterwards, continued to teach private students before eventually founding Mezzo Music Academy in 2011. Having spent some time abroad working and training in sales and marketing roles, Sonya returned to Dublin to assume the position of sales and marketing manager for a well known hotel group.

She also successfully ran an interior design company with her mom Marie for many years. A mother of 2 boys, Ethan and Nevan, she brought them to Kindermusik classes from the age of 6 weeks, which she believes gave them an essential grounding in music. She soon realised the benefits of early music education and became a Fully Licensed Kindermusik Instructor, before introducing the award winning music and movement programme to the academy in 2012.

Her boys are a big part of the family and perform regularly at Mezzo Music Academy biannual recitals. Sonya’s father, William Murphy, a well known songwriter and musician, teaches at Mezzo Music Academy, along with her sister, Maria Stanley, who directs the Mezzo Choirs and accompanies exam students and performers. Her niece, Sorcha Stanley is the Office Manager at Mezzo, and her mom helps out with admin from time to time, so Mezzo Music Academy is very much a family effort!