Cork Academy of Music marking 30 years in existence

The Cork Academy of Music is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

In its first three decades it has seen some 2,700 students pass through its doors, with five more graduates joining that number recently.

Located in the Griffin Burke Building on the North Monastery campus, the academy was founded in 1994 by Bob Seward.

Over the past 30 years, the academy has always had at the core of its ethos the idea that music can be a tool of social inclusion, running a variety of courses for all ages and providing progression routes to third and further education, as well as to work in the music industry.

Supported

The academy’s manager, Billy O’Callaghan, told The Echo that the academy is supported by the Cork Education and Training Board, Cork City Council, and the Department of Social Protection.

Mr O’Callaghan said the academy has a variety of full-time and part-time courses, including two local training initiatives at Level 4 and Level 5, which have a target group of young adults.

“We also have a full-time community employment scheme which acts as a foundation and access course, and also a part-time back-to-education initiative."

Mr O’Callaghan offered his congratulations to the academy’s latest graduates, Luke Mehigan, Ciara Butler, Bobby Ahern, Donna Lynch, and Monika Darlak, all of whom will now go on to further study music at higher level.

“Luke, Ciara, Bobby and Donna all successfully completed their QQI Level 5 recently in the academy, while Monika finished her studies on the community employment scheme, and they were all successful in their application,” he said.

With new courses starting up again for the new academic year in September, Mr O’Callaghan said the best way to get in touch with the staff at the academy is through its website, http://corkacademyofmusic.ie.