BMus Graduation - Top of my Class!
I am delighted to share that in November, I graduated with a 1.1 in my BMus degree from University College Cork
The last four years in UCC have been the most wonderful years of learning, growing and unforgettable music. I can not thank UCC TradSoc enough for shaping my college experience and making me the musician and person I am. President of UCC, John O’Halloran once again giving a special mention to myself and to the TradSoc’s continued work with the Embassy of Ireland abroad was a notable proud moment during my graduation ceremony, and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.
I am also delighted to share that I was awarded the Sean Ó Riada Memorial Prize for excellence in both performance and academic contexts in Irish traditional music as part of the BMus degree programme and Mary V. Hart Memorial Prize in Music for the highest mark in the BMus graduating class 2025. This is a huge honour to graduate top of my class, and in particular I feel very honoured to be the first student in UCC to ever receive these two awards with the The Staf Gebruers Memorial Prize In Music in the same year.
I am so grateful to the UCC Music Department for their continued encouragement and for all the wonderful opportunities. Some highlight were performing on Other Voices, recording an episode of Ceilí House, recording the promotion video for the MA in Irish Traditional Music, my dissertation recital last year entitled "From the Highlands to Ireland - A Musical Exploration of the connections between Irish and Scottish Traditional Music," opening the 2023 RTÉ Folk Awards and the celebrations of 100 Years of Traditional Music in UCC, to name a few!
A special thanks to Michele and Elaine from Quercus Talented Students Program UCC for their continued support throughout my degree.
Although my time in UCC is not over, as I complete my MA in Irish Traditional Music and as Vice-Chairperson of TradSoc, it was lovely to look back on my undergrad with my peers and department faculty with happiness and gratitude!
