Gordon Ramsay was born in Ireland and raised in England. He had a varied military and civilian career before entering Queen’s University. His (2009) doctoral thesis was based on an ethnography of Ulster marching bands and focused on the relationships between aesthetic pleasure, embodied skills and political commitment as foundations of identity.
Desi Wilkinson teaches on both the undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in folk music studies and ethnomusicology (including performance) at Newcastle University. He has contributed to several books and academic journals but is better known for his work as a musician and recording artist (soloist, ‘CRAN’, ‘Buffalo in the Castle’). His interests include the socio-musical reality of the Irish and francophone diasporas.
Karen Power Karen began work as a Music Technician at Mary Immaculate College, University of lImerick,in 2002 . She joined MIC after undertaking a similar role in the University of Sydney, Australia. Karen’s interest in technology stems from her undergraduate years in UCC where through her compositions she worked extensively with whatever technology was available. After her undergraduate degree she completed an M.A. in Original Composition and Analysis. Karen has completed a part-time PhD at SARC (Sonic Arts Research Centre), Queen’s University Belfast, under the direction of Prof. Michael Alcorn. Karen continues to have her Compositions performed throughout Europe and the US and is represented by CMC (Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland). She is also a member of AIC (Association of Irish Composers), SPNM (Society for the promotion of New Music), SEAMUS (Society of Electro Acoustic Music in the US), IAWM (International Alliance for Women in Music Association) and a former member of the ICC (YCC) (Young Composers’ Collective).
Niall Keegan was born in the south east of England and began playing Irish traditional flute at an early age amongst the community of first and second generation musicians in and around London. In 1990 Niall began studying under Dr Mícheál Ó Súileabháin for a Masters degree which he completed in 1992 with the submission of a thesis entitled The Words of Traditional Flute Style. He is course director of the new Traditional Irish Music performance masters at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick and also teaches on the ethnomusicology program there. He has given occasional lectures and taught instrumental classes at the Music Dept. of University College, Cork and University College, Galway, Sibelius Academy, Dublin Institute of Technology, Newcastle University, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama among others.
