Final MA Performances!

Last week my MA program at the University of Limerick finished up with a series of final solo performances from my class. It was such a treat to hear everyone's playing and to be involved in a few others aside from my own. I've learned so much this year with the guidance of amazing tutors and classmates, and can't wait to continue building on the ideas I've gained during the program. Thanks again to Arts Nova Scotia, The Conservatory, the Charitable Irish Society, and Mark Cardiff for their wonderful support, making this year abroad possible for me!

The performances were all live-streamed and continue to be available on YouTube through the Irish World Academy Channel.

An Chúirt Chruitireachta in Termonfechin

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of attending An Chúirt Chruitireachta Annual International Harp Festival, organized by Cairde Na Cruite! My attendance was made possible by Ionad na Cruite, a harp research cluster based at the Irish World Academy. Ionad na Cruite was established in 2013 and aims to stimulate scholarship, performance and advanced research on all harp types with a special focus on the harp in Ireland. Many thanks to Ionad na Cruite for this generous support! The festival included daily tutorials and performances, and included a record breaking mass harp ensemble of more than 150 harps.

Final Performance Week at UL, Semester Two

From April 23rd to 26th, the masters students at the Irish World Academy had their final performances of the semester. I was very happy to perform with two songwriters, my trad ensemble, and three fellow trad MA students, in addition to my own solo trad MA performance. I was also involved in a premiere of an arrangement of Song of the Chanter for 12-piece traditional instrument ensemble by Ernesto Gongora. Some of the performances were very beautifully recorded and posted to YouTube. Check them out below! I've listed the performances I was involved in but all the MA performances in music and dance were fantastic and it's well worth checking out the Irish World Academy channel to see some of the rest of them too: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkORaD2EZDVXJ_9SHmjURMA 

solo performance, starting 23:10

with Olivia Budd at 0:30 and 10:10, and with Ernesto Gongora at 40:00

with Lizzy Hewitt and Rebecca McCarthy Kent at 34:10

with Cathy O'Toole and Neven Sebille Kernaudour at 1:00

End of Semester One!

This week marks the end of my first semester at the University of Limerick! The end of term requirements included a solo performance, an ensemble performance, a performance accompanying vocal ensemble, an assessment of a new short harp and dance piece, two presentations, and a few written assignments. I'm looking forward to the break and coming back in January for round two! Thanks again to the people who supported my studies here this term: The Conservatory, Arts Nova Scotia, The Charitable Irish Society, and my friends and family.

University of Limerick

This week I will begin a year of study at the University of Limerick in Irish music performance! I am very grateful to Arts Nova Scotia, the Maritime Conservatory, the Charitable Irish Society, and a generous anonymous donor for their kind support of this endeavour!