She started violin lessons at an early age and later began to compose with the encouragement of her teacher, Bob Leonard.
Returning to Queen’s on a Department of Education of Northern Ireland scholarship in 2003, she received a doctorate under the tutelage of Piers Hellawell.
[2] She has collaborated on work with the Belfast artist Jean Duncan including "A pale yellow sky" and "The Fly".
[3] Her piece "Comendo spiritum meum", which incorporates the last words of St Oliver Plunkett, was premiered by the Latvian State Choir in 2007.
[4] "Dieppe" a setting of the poem by Samuel Beckett, was selected for the 12th International Review of Composers in Belgrade and also by James MacMillan for a BBC Singers workshop.