University College Cork

Michelle is an Irish traditional musician and a Lecturer in Music Education and Community Music at the Department of Music, UCC. A significant focus of her academic work is on creativity and inclusive practice. Michelle’s research and teaching focuses on themes of children’s musical cultures, creative community engagement, creative practice with intellectual disability, sensory integration with music and disability, intergenerational arts and health practice, early years music and teaching and learning in higher education.

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

Michelle is a founding member of the Society for Music Education in Ireland (2010-2016) and board member of Cork City Music Education Partnership (2018-present). Michelle was awarded numerous prizes and scholarships for her work to date including:  The Seán Ó Ríada Prize (2004); The Ireland Canada Foundation Riverdance Award (2005); The Arts Council Bursary Award (2009); Doctoral scholarship from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (2009-2012);  UCC Enhancement Fund (2016); Excellence In Teaching Award (2019).

Michelle has published numerous chapters in books, peer review journals and educational research reports.  

Michelle PhD research focused 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, she 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 are presented in the context of the National Children’s Strategy which informs policy for the development and role of music and culture for children in this context.  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 has graduated from UCC with a BMus (2005), MPhil (2008) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2009), PhD  (2016), Higher diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2019) and Masters in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2021).