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Michelle Finnerty

Lecturer
Music
University College Cork
Cork
Ireland

T: +353-21-490-3000
E: M.Finnerty@ucc.ie

Michelle is a Lecturer in Music and coordinator of the Early Start Program in Music.  Her research interests include; Irish traditional music, music in education, early years arts education, music in community contexts and teaching and learning in higher education.

Michelle has recently completed her PhD on the musical cultures of children in Ireland. Michelle was awarded a prestigious doctoral scholarship from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.  As part of this work, Michelle explored children’s perspectives on their musical worlds and culture lives in Ireland. She has carried out research with children in a range of in-school and out-of-school contexts in Cork.  Her original research findings will be presented in the context of the National Children’s Strategy and the role of music and culture for children in this context.


In addition to performing music in many contexts, Michelle is also involved in the research and development of community projects in education and health care contexts.  As part of this research, she has developed the Connections project (2007-Present) which is an arts and health project based in local community health care settings in Cork. She has received numerous research funding for her work in this area from a range of national and local funding bodies including the Arts Council, HSE Arts and Health and Cork City Council Community Context Awards.

Michelle has overseen a diverse range of music education research projects funded by The Arts Council of Ireland, HSE, Cork Arts and Health, St Patrick's College Drumcondra ,Cork City Council and Music Generation Cork City. 

In 2012, she was research adviser and partner to the recently published Tiny Voice -Early Years Report(2013). The project was run by  Common Ground in collaboration with Early Childhood Ireland. The research dimension was a joint collaboration with The Department of Music, St Patrick's College, Dublin and the Department of Music, University College Cork. 

In 2013 and 2014, Michelle facilitated the development of a traditional music programme for young children in Cork city in partnership with Club Ceoil, Ballyphenane, Creative Tradition and Music Generation Cork City. 

In 2015, she was the lead researcher on an Early Years Research Project in collaboration with Cork City Childcare and Music Generation Cork City.

Michelle is a founding member of the Society for Music Education in Ireland (2010-2016) and throughout the past six years worked as assistant secretary (2010-2014) and secretary (2014-2016). She was treasurer of the Irish Council for Traditional Music (2014-2015). 

She is currently a board member of the MA in Youth Work, Sports Studies and Community Arts at UCC. She teaches the Community Music module as part of this course.

Michelle has received many awards for her research. In 2005, she was awarded the Ireland Canada Foundation Riverdance Award. In 2009, she received a Bursary Award from the Arts Council for her research on the role and development of music in local community settings in Cork and Michelle was awarded a three year National Children's Strategy Doctoral Scholarship from the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. 

Michelle has graduated from UCC with a BMus (2005), MPhil (2008) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2009) and PhD  (2016).



Research Interests

Michelle's research interests fall into the areas of Music in Education, Music in the Community and Music in Ireland. Her research is concerned with the ways in which music, education and community are interwoven in Irish academic discourse and education policy. 

Michelle's research as part of her MPhil thesis entitled: Connecting Classroom and Community: The Role of Music in Education in Ireland, University College Cork, (2008), presents an understanding of the role of music at primary level in Ireland and it highlights how music is unique in the way it makes connections between the classroom, the school community and the wider community. The research provides an understanding of the ways in which music education can be provided and how connections between school and community can be strengthened to increase the provision of music for all children in Ireland.

Michelle has recently initiated and designed The Connections project, a performance based research project on Irish traditional music, song and dance which aims to increase access to traditional music through a series of performances in local community education and health care settings.  This research is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland (Aug 2007 and Jan 2008), Cork City Council (Aug 2008) and The Arts Council of Ireland (2010).

Michelle has been engaged in ethnographic fieldwork in Ireland, Canada and the USA. She has presented conference papers and invited papers on the subjects of Irish traditional music, music education and the study of music at tertiary level in Ireland. She has organised and co-organised a number of festivals and seminars relating to the promotion of Irish traditional music. She has engaged in consultancy projects on Irish traditional music, education and community practice in Ireland. As part of this work, Michelle produced The Linenhall Research Report: exploring access to Irish traditional music (2006), The Connections Report: exploring Irish traditional music through music, song and dance (2008) and Connections: Irish traditional music, song & dance in local community healthcare settings (2008).

Michelle consulted on the commissioned series for RTE entitled The Reel Deal (2009 Broadcast) and the development of arts and health practices in Ireland with the Arts Council of Ireland and the Health Service Executive. Michelle is currently a committee member of the Society for Music Education in Ireland and is an advisor to the Common Ground and Early Childhood Ireland pilot project on music in the early years. 

Books

YearPublication
(2011)Cheolchéim:Introduction to Irish traditional music, song and dance for the early years.
Finnerty, Michelle and Kearney, Daithí; (2011) Cheolchéim:Introduction to Irish traditional music, song and dance for the early years. Cork: Arts Council of Ireland. [Details]
(2010)Meet the Professor: Celebrating the Centenary of the birth of Aloys Fleischmann.
Finnerty, Michelle; (2010) Meet the Professor: Celebrating the Centenary of the birth of Aloys Fleischmann. Cork: Cork City Council. [Details]

Book Chapters

YearPublication
(2014)'Making Connections: the use of ethnographic fieldwork to facilitate a model of Integrative Learning'
Finnerty,Michelle (2014) 'Making Connections: the use of ethnographic fieldwork to facilitate a model of Integrative Learning' In: Integrative Learning: International Research and Practice. UK: Routledge. [Details]

Other Journals

YearPublication
(2010)'Fieldtrip Reflections:Sliabh Luachra and Corca Dhuibhne'
Finnerty, Michelle and Kearney, Daithí; (2010) 'Fieldtrip Reflections:Sliabh Luachra and Corca Dhuibhne' Speis: Irish Council for Traditional Music, . [Details]

Conference Publications

YearPublication
(2011)MERYC 2011: European Music Educators and Researchers for Young Children
Finnerty, Michelle; (2011) Children's Access to Music Education in Ireland: Exploring provisions in formal and in-formal education and community contexts MERYC 2011: European Music Educators and Researchers for Young Children [Details]
(2011)Sociological Explorations: Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education
Michelle Finnerty; (2011) Connecting Classroom, School and Community: Exploring Music Education in Ireland (Forthcoming) . In: Dr John O Flynn eds. Sociological Explorations: Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education [Details]

Book Reviews

YearPublication
(2012)Review of Adam Kaul, Turning the Tune: Traditional Music, Tourism, and Social Change in an Irish Village.
Finnerty, Michelle (2012) Review of Adam Kaul, Turning the Tune: Traditional Music, Tourism, and Social Change in an Irish Village. Book Reviews [Details]

Documentary

YearPublication
(2006)Cork 2005, Culture and Health Strand DVD, European Capital of Culture.
Cork 2005 & Southern HSE; (2006) Cork 2005, Culture and Health Strand DVD, European Capital of Culture. Cork: Documentary [Details]

Encyclopedia Entries

YearPublication
(2010)Various Popular Music Entries in Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland.
Finnerty, Michelle; (2010) Various Popular Music Entries in Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland. Dublin:UCD Press. Encyclopedia Entries. [Details]

Invited Review Articles

YearPublication
(2005)Irish Traditional Music at University College Cork.
Finnerty, Michelle; (2005) Irish Traditional Music at University College Cork. Munster Fleadh Book, Cork: Invited Review Articles [Details]

Newspaper Articles

YearPublication
(2005)Bridging the Gap: Music at Scoil Cholmcille.
Finnerty, Michelle and Lynch, Billy; (2005) Bridging the Gap: Music at Scoil Cholmcille. Network News: Newspaper Articles [Details]

Newsletter

YearPublication
(2011)Meet the Professor: Education Resource to Celebrate the Centenary of the Birth of Aloys Fleischmann.
Finnerty, Michelle; (2011) Meet the Professor: Education Resource to Celebrate the Centenary of the Birth of Aloys Fleischmann. Post Primary Music Teacher's Association of Ireland: Newsletter [Details]

Unpublished Reports

YearPublication
(2008)Connections: Irish traditional music, song & dance in local community healthcare settings Evaluation Report.
Finnerty, Michelle; (2008) Connections: Irish traditional music, song & dance in local community healthcare settings Evaluation Report. Cork City Arts Council: Unpublished Reports [Details]
(2008)The Connections Report: exploring Irish traditional music through music, song and dance Evaluation Report.
Finnerty, Michelle; (2008) The Connections Report: exploring Irish traditional music through music, song and dance Evaluation Report. The Arts Council of Ireland: Unpublished Reports [Details]
(2006)The Linenhall Research Report: exploring access to Irish traditional music.
Finnerty, Michelle; (2006) The Linenhall Research Report: exploring access to Irish traditional music. The Arts Council of Ireland and The Linenhall Arts Centre: Unpublished Reports [Details]

Sound recording

YearPublication
(2006)Blarney Street Beo! CD of music from Scoil Choilmcille, Blarney St. Cork.
Finnerty, Michelle and Lynch, Billy; (2006) Blarney Street Beo! CD of music from Scoil Choilmcille, Blarney St. Cork. Cork: Sound recording [Details]

Thesis/Dissertation

YearPublication
(2008)Connecting Classroom and Community: The Role of Music in Education in Ireland.
Finnerty, Michelle; (2008) Connecting Classroom and Community: The Role of Music in Education in Ireland. University College Cork: Thesis/Dissertation [Details]

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2001Lions Club National Youth Award No name given
2000All-Ireland Medal Winner All Ireland Fleadh
1999All-Ireland Medal Winner All Ireland Fleadh
1999Student of the year award Ard Scoil Mhuire
1998National Youth Award Lions Club of Ireland
2005Seán O Riada University College Cork
2005Ireland Canada Riverdance Award Ireland Canada Foundation
2009Arts Council Bursary Award Arts Council of Ireland
2010National Children's Strategy Doctoral Scholarship Office for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Professional Associations

 AssociationFunctionFrom / To
International Society for Music Education Society Member10-JAN-05 / 31-DEC-10
International Council for Traditional Music Society Member/
Irish Council for Traditional Music Society Member/
Society for Musicology in Ireland Member/
Society for Music Education in Ireland Founding Committee Member01-JUL-10 / 01-JUL-11

Conference Contributions

YearPublication
(2012)2nd Annual Conference for the Society for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI),
Finnerty, Michelle (2012) Sounds from within: Listening to Children’s perspectives on their musical worlds. [Poster Presentation], 2nd Annual Conference for the Society for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI), Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick , 09-NOV-12 - 10-NOV-13. [Details]
(2012)2nd Annual Conference for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI),
Finnerty, Michelle (2012) SMEI Annual Conference. [Conference Organising Committee Member], 2nd Annual Conference for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI), Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick , 09-NOV-12 - 09-DEC-12. [Details]
(2013)MERYC, 2013 European Network of Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children,
Finnerty, Michelle (2013) Children's Engagment with Music in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], MERYC, 2013 European Network of Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children, The Universityof Hague , 17-JUL-13 - 20-JUL-13. [Details]
(2013)The 8th International Research In Music Education (RIME) Conference,
Finnerty, Michelle (2013) Sounds from within: Listening to Children’s perspectives on their musical worlds. [Oral Presentation], The 8th International Research In Music Education (RIME) Conference, University Of Exeter, UK , 09-APR-13 - 13-APR-13. [Details]
(2011)1st Annual Conference of Society for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI),
Finnerty, Michelle (2011) SMEI Conference. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], 1st Annual Conference of Society for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI), Department of Music, UCC , 11-NOV-11 - 13-NOV-11. [Details]
(2011)Researching the Musical Culture of Children in Ireland,
1st Annual Conference of the Society for Music Education in Ireland (2011) SMEI Conference. [Poster Presentation], Researching the Musical Culture of Children in Ireland, Department of Music, UCC , 11-NOV-11 - 13-NOV-11. [Details]
(2011)MERYC 2011,European Network of Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2011) Children's Access to Music Education in Ireland. [Peer Reviewed Abstract], MERYC 2011,European Network of Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children, Helsinki, Finland , 12-JUN-11 - 17-JUN-11. [Details]
(2011)MA in Music Education,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2011) Communities of Music: An Examination of Music in Education in Ireland. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], MA in Music Education, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick , 05-FEB-11 - 06-FEB-11. [Details]
(2010)CACSSS Postgraduate Conference,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2010) Researching the Musical Culture of Children in Ireland. [Peer Reviewed Abstract], CACSSS Postgraduate Conference, University College Cork , 20-NOV-10 - 20-NOV-10. [Details]
(2010)Society of Music Education in Ireland,
Finnerty,Michelle; (2010) Inaugral conference. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Society of Music Education in Ireland, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin , 27-NOV-10 - 27-NOV-10. [Details]
(2010)Launch of Fleishmann Exhibition,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2010) Meet the Professor: Introducing the life, work and legacy of Professor Aloys Fleischmann. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Launch of Fleishmann Exhibition, Bishopstown Library, Co. Cork , 04-NOV-10 - 04-NOV-10. [Details]
(2010)Post Primary Music Teacher's Association Annual Conference,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2010) Meet the Professor: An Education Resource for the Junior Cycle Curriculum. [Invited Oral Presentation], Post Primary Music Teacher's Association Annual Conference, Athlone, Co. Westmeath , 16-OCT-10 - 16-OCT-10. [Details]
(2010)Cork City Celebration of Culture Night,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2010) Launch of Meet the Professor Educational Resource. [Invited Oral Presentation], Cork City Celebration of Culture Night, School of Music and Theatre, UCC , 24-SEP-10 - 24-SEP-10. [Details]
(2010)Flexible Learning: National Academy for the Integration of Teaching and Learning,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2010) Making Connections: the use of ethnographic fieldwork to facilitate a model of Integrative Learning. [Peer Reviewed Abstract], Flexible Learning: National Academy for the Integration of Teaching and Learning, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin , 06-OCT-10 - 08-OCT-10. [Details]
(2009)Sociology of Music Education,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2009) Connecting Classroom, School and Community: the role of Music Education in Ireland. [Peer Reviewed Abstract], Sociology of Music Education, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick , 06-JUL-09 - 08-JUL-09. [Details]
(2009)Research in Music Education Conference,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2009) Connecting Classroom and Community: The Role of Agents in the Provision of Music Education in Ireland. [Peer Reviewed Abstract], Research in Music Education Conference, University of Exeter , 14-APR-09 - 18-APR-09. [Details]
(2009)Society of Musicology in Ireland,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2009) Connecting Classroom, School and Community: The Role of Music Education in Ireland. [Peer Reviewed Abstract], Society of Musicology in Ireland, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin , 09-JUL-09 - 12-JUL-09. [Details]
(2008)World Conference of International Society of Music Education,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2008) Connecting School and Community: the role of music at primary level education in Ireland. [Peer Reviewed Abstract], World Conference of International Society of Music Education, Bologna, Italy , 24-JUL-08 - 24-JUL-08. [Details]
(2007)Sexualities, Textualities, Art and Music in Early Modern Italy,
Committee Member; (2007) Confernce on Sexualities, Textualities, Art and Music in Early Modern Italy. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Sexualities, Textualities, Art and Music in Early Modern Italy, Department of Music, University College Cork , 16-MAY-07 - 19-MAY-07. [Details]
(2007)Society of Musicology in Ireland,
Finnerty, Michelle; Kearney, Daithí; (2007) Musical Pathways: an exploration of music in Cork city. [Poster Presentation], Society of Musicology in Ireland, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin , 13-MAY-07 - 13-MAY-07. [Details]
(2007)Sources of Funding in Irish Traditional Music,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2007) Cork International Folk Festival. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Sources of Funding in Irish Traditional Music, Triscal Arts Centre, Cork City , 01-SEP-07 - 01-SEP-07. [Details]
(2007)UCC Access Programme,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2007) An Overview of music education at tertiary level in Irealand. [Invited Oral Presentation], UCC Access Programme, University College Cork , 01-APR-07 - 01-APR-07. [Details]
(2006)Meithal: Irish Traditional Music Seminar,
Finnerty, Michelle; (2006) Irish Traditional Music Education at Tertiary Level in Irealand. [Oral Presentation], Meithal: Irish Traditional Music Seminar, University College Cork , 01-FEB-06 - 01-FEB-06. [Details]

Committees

 CommitteeFunctionFrom / To
Music Generation Cork City Quality Team Committe Member2012 /
Early Years Arts Pilot: Common Ground in partnership with Early Childhood Ireland Research Steering Group2012 /
Early Years Arts Pilot: Common Ground in partnership with Early Childhood Ireland Advisory Committee Member2011 / 2012
Irish Society for Music Education Committee Member2010 /
Cork International Folk Festival Committee Member2005 /

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
UCC Lecturer01-OCT-06 /
Cork College of Commerce, VEC. Lecturer01-JAN-04 / 31-DEC-08
Aston College of Adult Education, Department of Education & Science. Lecturer01-JAN-05 / 31-DEC-08
Bridging the Gap Project Primary Schools, Department of Education, UCC Music Schools Project Co-ordinator01-JAN-01 / 31-DEC-06

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2004University College Cork Bachelor of MusicMusic
2008University College Cork M.Phil.Music and Education
2009University College Cork Postgrad Cert. in Teaching & Learning in HETeaching and Learning

Languages

 LanguageReadingWritingSpeaking
English
Irish

Consultancy

 ClientDescription
Music Department, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin
Common Ground in Partnership with Early Childhood Ireland
Consultant to The Arts Council of Ireland, Arts and Health Policy Development Strand
Consultant to the HSE and Waterford Healing Trust on the development of guidelines for artists in Arts and Health Care practice.
Cork International Folk Festival, Cork City
Forefront TV Productions, Cork City
The Linenhall Arts Centre, Co. Mayo
Cork City Council Arts Department

Outreach Activities

 Description

Meet the Professor: Classroom visits to all secondary schools in Cork City as part of the Fleischmann Centenary Celebrations
Funded by Cork City Council
Nov-Dec 2010


Cork Folk Festival Live in the Classroom Series 2008-2010
School performances have been organised as part of the Cork Internaiotnal Folk Festival and Cork Ceili Mor celebrations.  The ensembles feature various Irish traditional artists and have included a number of students and graduates from the School of Music and Theatre.


Connections Project
 Outreach visits to various community and health care contexts in Cork
Funded by Cork City Council (  ), Arts Council of Ireland


Moment Project
HSE and Cork 2005


Bridging the Gap
2001-2005


Cúl Cheoil: Outreach Educational Project for Young Children
An education outreach project which consists of school visits and performances in six schools in Co. Cork.

Teaching Interests

Co-ordinator and Principal Lecturer of UCC's Early Start Semester in Music. 


Teaching areas include:

Music Education, Community music, Early Years Arts Education

Irish Traditional Music, Popular Musics in Ireland, Music and Culture

Research methods in music education and community contexts

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