April NUI Galway and Music for Galway Announce New Partnership

Music for Galway has entered into a new strategic partnership with NUI Galway. The Memorandum of Understanding between the long-established music organisation and the University was signed recently by NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, and Chair of Music for Galway, Anne O’Maille.

The new partnership will give students on NUI Galway’s new BA in Music the opportunity to work closely with some of Europe’s top performers. Students will have regular workshops with performers, developing such skills as critical listening, analysis and concert reviewing. In addition, they will have the chance to take up an internship with Music for Galway, at the end of which they would organise one of the concerts for the following season.

Chair of Music for Galway, Anne O’Maille said: “After nearly four decades of close ties with NUI Galway, we are delighted to formalise our relationship with the University. Music for Galway is proud to have played an important part in creating the environment in which a BA in Music in Galway could become relevant and possible. We look forward to working with the Head of Music, Dr Aidan Thomson and his team to link with and support the development of this programme for many years to come.”

Speaking at the announcement of the partnership, NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “For almost forty years Music for Galway has enriched the cultural life of our region. Over that period NUI Galway has been proud to support Music for Galway in a range of ways. With the formalising of our partnership and working together we will now build on that tradition by developing new learning opportunities for our students as well as adding to the cultural fabric of our hinterland. Music for Galway has always been defined by a spirit of service – bringing music to the audiences which it serves in Galway and the West of Ireland – making it truly for Galway. As a University we share that same spirit of service towards our region and this is signalled in this new cultural partnership.”

Head of Music at NUI Galway, Dr Aidan Thomson, said: “The internships will give our students a unique, practical opportunity to learn about arts management. They will be in excellent hands working with Music for Galway. It is tremendously exciting to think that there will soon be professional concerts in Galway that will be organised entirely by students.”

For more information on the BA (Music) Degree programme at NUI Galway visit www.nuigalway.ie/artsmusic/.  

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