Monday 22nd – Friday 26th July 2024 | 10am – 1pm | Ulster University, York Street, BT15 1ED

Hailing from Adare, County Limerick, Derek Hickey began his professional musical career at the early age of 15, joining the Shannonside Céilí Band before becoming a member of Arcady, Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh’s band at 18 and becoming a member of legendary Irish Supergroup Dé Dannan at the age of 21, his pairing with Frankie Gavin proved to be one of the best box and fiddle duets ever. In his rich and varied performing experiences, he has shared the stage with some of world's greatest talents including Stephan Grappelli and The Rolling Stones and is a regular tutor at The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University Limerick. 

Mick McAuley is an Irish musician, composer and songwriter who has recorded and toured internationally for many years. While his music is rooted firmly in the Irish tradition, he has been part of a movement which continues to push the musical boundaries of that tradition to bring Irish music to a wider and more diverse audience around the world. As a long-time member of the Irish-American ensemble SOLAS, he has recorded and toured nine albums with them and received widespread international acclaim. 

The Summer School’s team of tutors is made up of internationally renowned performers with proven track records as teachers and educationalists. The primary means of teaching and learning will be ‘by ear’ with an emphasis in the less experienced classes of assisting pupils to develop oral/aural skills in addition to instrumental competency and developing core repertoire. All classes are designed for intermediate to advanced (minimum 2 years instrument experience) adults and children over 6 years of age except bodhrán, set dancing, sean nós dancing, traditional singing & sean nós singing which are suitable for beginners.