Roisin Blunnie

Dr

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Dr Róisín Blunnie is Associate Professor of Music at the School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music, DCU. She is the Programme Chair of DCU's MA in Choral Studies and leads the University's well-known Choral Leadership Days at the All Hallows Campus.

On the MA in Choral Studies and Bachelor of Religious Education and Music programmes, she teaches modules in the areas of choral conducting and choral leadership; solfege and music theory; aural and keyboard skills; music history and culture, and music-teaching for post-primary level; and she conducts the DCU Lumen Chorale, a 75-strong choir of undergraduate music students. She is currently supervising doctoral research on the British composer Ethel Smyth, the history and usage of the Alleluia, analytical considerations in children's song collections, inclusive strategies for choral leadership, and contemporary Irish choral music. Róisín received an IRC Research Ally Award in 2023. Prior to the establishment of the School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music at DCU, she was Head of the Music Department at Mater Dei Institute in Drumcondra. 

Róisín is the founder and conductor of award-winning Dublin-based chamber choir Laetare Vocal Ensemble. With Laetare, she released the critically acclaimed album Ghost Songs: Contemporary Music and Words from Ireland (Divine Art Records, 2021), featuring guest performers Marina Carr, Paula Meehan, Dairena Ní Chinnéide, Carl Corcoran, and Síle Denvir. 

She was the DCU team lead for the Erasmus+ project PRESTO (2021-23), working in collaboration with the Liszt Academy (Hungary), Caprice Oy (Finland), the National Youth Choir of Scotland, and Sing Ireland to produce an extensive suite of flexible digital learning resources, approaches, and activities, available at www.kodalyhub.com/presto. Together with Dr Ciarán Crilly UCD), she is the editor of Perspectives on Conducting, a collection of chapters by Irish and international scholar-practitioners in choral and orchestral conducting (Routledge, 2024).

Róisín has a PhD in Music from Trinity College Dublin, an MA in Kodály Pedagogy and an Advanced Diploma in Choral Conducting from the Liszt Academy (Kodály Institute) in Kecskemét, Hungary, and a first-class honours degree in Music and History from TCD, awarded with the gold medal of the university. Her PhD studies on cultural influences and imperial ideology in the early cantatas and oratorios of Edward Elgar were supported by the Irish Research Council and the TCD Non-Foundation Scholarship, and her studies in Hungary were funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and the International Kodály Society. 

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2018 Blunnie, R (2018) 'Scripture, Music, and the Shaping of Irish Cultural Identities’' In: The Bible in Ireland: A Social and Cultural History. London : Bloomsbury T&T Clark.

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2016 Blunnie, Róisín (2016) 'Seeking the Sacred: Edward Elgar's Caractacus and Surpassing the Roman Empire'. REA: RELIGION, EDUCATION AND THE ARTS, (10):28-46. [Link]
2016 Blunnie, Róisín; Flanagan, Orla (editors) (2016) 'Issue 10: Sacred Music: Perspectives on Performance'. REA: RELIGION, EDUCATION AND THE ARTS, (10). [Link]

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2016 Blunnie, Róisín (2016) Society for Musicology in Ireland Plenary Conference Moulding the Messianic: Heroes Real and Imagined in Elgar’s Late-Victorian Cantatas Dublin City University, .
2016 Blunnie, Róisín and Elaine McDonald (2016) Dialogue Across Education and Humanities Dialogue as a Response to Change: Music in Initial Teacher Education (Post-Primary) DCU, .
2013 Blunnie, Róisín (2013) Post Primary Music Teachers' Annual Conference 'Singing to Learn: experience-based learning through singing' Athlone, 11/10/2013-13/10/2013.
2010 Blunnie, Róisín (2010) Royal Musical Association Research Students’ Conference ‘Muscular Heroism and Colonial Space: Elgar’s King Olaf and Imperial Adventure Stories for Boys’ University of York, 07/01/2010-09/01/2010.
2016 Blunnie, Róisín (2016) Society for Musicology in Ireland Plenary Conference Conference Committee DCU, .
2015 Blunnie, Róisín and Orla Flanagan (2015) The Singing Network Symposium on Singing and Song, Memorial University, Newfoundland Responses to Irishness: Contemporary Choral Composers and Irish Musical Identity Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's NFL, Canada, .
2014 Blunnie, Róisín (2014) Society for Musicology in Ireland (SMI) Annual Conference, UCD, 2014 ‘For All the World Shall Learn It: Elgar, Acworth and the Imperial Mission’ University College Dublin, 06/06/2014-08/06/2014.
2014 Blunnie, Róisín (2014) Biennial International Conference on Nineteenth-Century Music ‘With God on their Side: Divine Endorsement of Empire in Elgar’s Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf and Caractacus’ University of Toronto, 18/06/2014-20/06/2014.
2013 Blunnie, Róisín (2013) Music Education Gathering: Society for Music Education in Ireland (SMEI) Annual Conference ‘Teaching Cultural Context: Elgar’s Early Cantatas and the Late-Victorian Heroic Ideal’ St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, 01/11/2013-03/11/2013.
2011 Blunnie, Róisín (2011) Music in Nineteenth-Century Britain Conference ‘Dignity in Defeat: Elgar’s Caractacus in the Context of Late-Victorian Popular Imperialism’ Queen's University, Belfast, 21/07/2011-24/07/2011.
2009 Blunnie, Róisín (2009) Royal Musical Association (RMA) and Society for Musicology in Ireland (SMI) Joint Conference ‘Elgar’s Early Choral Works: Text, Music, and Late-Victorian Culture’ Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, 09/07/2009-12/07/2009.

Book Review

Year Publication
2019 Róisín Blunnie (2019) 'Music in Irish Cultural History', review of 'A Musical Offering: Essays in Honour of Gerard Gillen'. New York: BREV [Link]

Multimedia

Year Publication
2012 Blunnie, Róisín (Conductor) (2012) Trinity Singers, In the Bleak Mid-winter, The Wexford Carol, Once in Royal David’s City, Lyric FM Choirs for Christmas CD, with the RTE Concert Orchestra, Lyric FM label, . ONMM

Thesis

Year Publication
2013 Blunnie, Róisín (2013) The Early Choral Works of Edward Elgar (1857-1934) in the Context of Late-Victorian British Idealism. THES

Recording

Year Publication
2017 Blunnie, Róisín and Laetare Vocal Ensemble (2017) In Circling Flight. REC

Video recording / TV

Year Publication
2017 Róisín Blunnie, Donal Hurley, Bob Gallagher (2017) Lumen, Lumen, Mater Dei. VID [Link]

Music score

Year Publication
2019 Roisin Blunnie (editor), Ben Hanlon (composer) (2019) Haec Dies, for SATB choir. Waterford: MUSIC [Link]
2019 Róisín Blunnie (editor), Eoghan Desmond (composer) (2019) Fauxbourdon Canticles. Waterford: MUSIC [Link]
2019 Róisín Blunnie (editor), Ben Hanlon (composer) (2019) Beannacht ar Chách. Waterford: MUSIC [Link]
2019 Róisín Blunnie (editor), Liam Bates (composer) (2019) Psalm 23. Waterford: MUSIC [Link]
2018 Róisín Blunnie (editor), Eric Sweeney (composer) (2018) Psalm 23. Waterford: MUSIC [Link]
2018 Róisín Blunnie (editor), Ben Hanlon (composer) (2018) Ár nAthair. Waterford: MUSIC [Link]
2018 Róisín Blunnie (editor), Raeghnya Zutshi (composer) (2018) Ubi Caritas. Waterford: MUSIC [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
01/05/2015 (Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble) Premier Choir of the Festival, Mayo International Choral Festival Mayo International Choral Festival
01/04/2017 [Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble] Ireland's Choir of the Year Cork International Choral Festival
01/01/2017 2nd prize in the international category, City of Derry International Choir Festival City of Derry International Choir Festival
01/04/2017 [Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble] CMC Trophy for the Performance of Irish Choral Music Cork International Choral Festival
01/05/2019 Highly Commended, Team Category, President's Award for Excellence in Teaching Dublin City University
01/04/2017 [Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble] Schuman/Europe Trophy Cork International Choral Festival
01/10/2018 [Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble] CMC Award for the performance of Irish Choral Music City of Derry International Choir Festival
01/03/2017 [Conducting DCU Lumen Chorale] Clef Club Award for Mixed Choir Feis Ceoil
01/10/2018 3rd prize in the international category, City of Derry International Choir Festival City of Derry International Choir Festival
01/05/2013 (Conducting the Mornington Singers), National Choir of the Year, Navan Choral Festival Navan Choral Festival
01/11/2015 (Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble) W.B. Yeats Award, Sligo International Choral Festival Sligo International Choral Festival and Sligo Yeats Society
01/01/2015 (Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble) National Choir of the Year, Navan Choral Festival Navan Choral Festival
01/05/2016 (Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble) Contemporary Music Centre Award for the Performance of Irish Choral Music, Cork International Choral Festival Cork Choral Festival
01/11/2015 (Conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble) Mixed Choir and Sacred Music Awards, Sligo International Choral Festival Sligo International Choral Festival

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Council of Heads of Music in Higher Education 01/09/2017 - 30/09/2021
Council of Heads of Music in Higher Education 01/01/2015 - 31/08/2017
Kodály Society of Ireland 01/09/2008 - 30/04/2013

Employment

Employer Position From / To
Mater Dei Institute of Education Lecturer in Music 01/11/2011 - 11/01/2015
Mater Dei Institute of Education Head of Music Department 12/01/2015 - 30/09/2016

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
Trinity College Dublin B.A. (Mod.) Music and History
Kodály Institute Graduate Diploma Gen. Dip. Choral Conducting
Liszt Academy M.A. Choral Conducting; Kodály Pedagogy
Kodály Institute Graduate Diploma Adv. Dip. Choral Conducting
Trinity College Dublin Ph.D. Music (Musicology)

Reviews

Journal Role
The Irish Literary Supplement Reviewer

Other Activities

Description
Laetare Vocal Ensemble; Róisín Blunnie, Conductor: There Will be Peace: Reflections on Conflict, Love and Loss. A Centenary-inspired concert of choral music, presented jointly with Voci Nuove (Cork) Programme: Libera Me (Lajos Bárdos); Trois Beaux Oiseaux du Paradis (Maurice Ravel); Never Weather Beaten Sail (Hubert Parry); Do Not Stand at my Grave (Rhona Clarke); An Phoblacht (Ben Hanlon); Advance Democracy (Benjamin Britten); The Blackbird (Greg Scanlon); Hanging on the old Barbed Wire (Trad.); All the Fine Young Men (Eric Bogle/John Munro, arr. Dineen); She Moved through the Fair (Arr. David Mooney); De Profundis (Vic Nees); Song for Athene (John Tavener); Go, Lovely Rose (Eric Whitacre); Agnus Dei (Ciarán Hope); Selig sind die Toten (Heinrich Schütz); Steal Away (Arr. Joseph Jennings); Esti Dal (Zoltán Kodály)
Adjudication at the Sligo International Choral Festival 2018
A concert of music exploring themes of grief and loss, including works by Lassus, Gesualdo, Whitacre, Nees, Rheinberger, Kreek, Orbán, Kodály and Stroope; with the Mornington Singers
Adjudication at New Ross AIMS Choral Festival 2016
Adjudication at Limerick Choral Festival 2015
Adjudication at Kiltimagh Choral Festival 2014, 2015
Laetare Vocal Ensemble; Róisín Blunnie, Conductor: There Will be Peace: Reflections on Conflict, Love and Loss. A Centenary-inspired concert of choral music, presented jointly with Voci Nuove (Cork) Programme: Libera Me (Lajos Bárdos); Trois Beaux Oiseaux du Paradis (Maurice Ravel); Never Weather Beaten Sail (Hubert Parry); Do Not Stand at my Grave (Rhona Clarke); An Phoblacht (Ben Hanlon); Advance Democracy (Benjamin Britten); The Blackbird (Greg Scanlon); Hanging on the old Barbed Wire (Trad.); All the Fine Young Men (Eric Bogle/John Munro, arr. Dineen); She Moved through the Fair (Arr. David Mooney); De Profundis (Vic Nees); Song for Athene (John Tavener); Go, Lovely Rose (Eric Whitacre); Agnus Dei (Ciarán Hope); Selig sind die Toten (Heinrich Schütz); Steal Away (Arr. Joseph Jennings); Esti Dal (Zoltán Kodály)
Adjudication at New Ross AIMS Choral Festival 2013, 2014

Creative Outputs

Year Title Type
2021 Ghost Songs: Contemporary Music and Words from Ireland Recording
2017 In Circling Flight Recording

Enterprise Engagement

Year Engagement Type Client Description
2014 Continuous Professional Development/Training Music Generation Carlow Provision of training in choral leadership, part 2
2019 Invited talk/presentation City of Derry International Choir Festival Workshop with singers
2019 Invited talk/presentation Post-Primary Music Teachers Association Presentation on 'Choral Leadership'
2008 Continuous Professional Development/Training Shanghai Conservatory of Music Provision of special module on Kodály music training
2015 Invited talk/presentation Kodály Institute, Liszt Academy, Hungary Music Master Class Week
2018 Continuous Professional Development/Training DCU, in association with the PPMTA and AOIC Choral Leadership Development Day
2012 Continuous Professional Development/Training Music Network Provision of training in music leadership
2014 Continuous Professional Development/Training Trinity College Dublin Provision of training in music leadership
2012 Continuous Professional Development/Training Kodály Society of Ireland Provision of music training
2013 Continuous Professional Development/Training Music Generation Carlow Provision of training in choral leadership for conductors
2019 Consultancy City of Derry International Choir Festival Member of international jury

Outreach Activities

Year Engagement Type Organisation Description
Charity concert for Focus Ireland (conducting Laetare Vocal Ensemble), December 2015, with guests Cór Duibhlinne
Workshop Day for choir leaders
2018 Presentations/Talks to an external audience DCU School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music in association with the Post-Primary Teachers Association Choral Leadership Development Day at DCU: leading workshops for choral practitioners from all over Ireland
2019 Presentations/Talks to an external audience DCU School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music in association with Sing Ireland Choral Leadership Day: workshops for choral practitioners from all over Ireland
2021 Educational Outreach/Public Engagement DCU School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music with Sing Ireland DCU Choral Leadership Day
2020 Presentations/Talks to an external audience DCU in a association with Sing Ireland DCU Choral Leadership Day, public workshops presented by DCU School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music in association with Sing Ireland.

Media

Title Year Type Authors
Under Song: Poet Lola Ridge Rediscovered 2019 Documentary Lyric FM
Róisín Blunnie, the Offbeat Interview 2018 Podcast Róisín Blunnie, interviewed by K. Felfeli
Culture File 2013 Radio Interviews Roisin Blunnie
Culture File Weekly 2020 Radio interview/panel discussion

Research Interests

- Music in its historical and cultural contexts
- Choral conducting and choir leadership
- Choral music: analysis, interpretation, style
- Choral sound: choral-vocal pedagogy, intonation, ensemble
- Cantatas and oratorios of Edward Elgar; music in late 19th-century and early 20th-century Britain
- Music pedagogy; digital resources and teaching processes for polyphonic skill development


Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
PRESTO: Practices and Resources for Equipping Schools to Teach Music Online DCU PI 26/04/2021 25/04/2023
Honouring Sounds and Spaces: the Compositional Legacy of MDI and SPD Project Leader, Producer, Conductor 01/06/2016 30/04/2017

Teaching Interests

Teaching interests include:
- Choral Conducting Technique
- Interpretation and Musical Style in Choral Music
- Choral Leadership
- Solfege and Music Theory
- Music History and Analysis
- Post-Primary Music Pedagogy

                          

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2022 Music History, Form and Style MC109
2022 Description of 2021_MC514 MC514
2022 Music Teaching Post-Primary MC319
2021 Research Module MC500
2022 Medieval, Renaissance, Romantic Music History MC307
2022 Performance/Keyboard/Aural/Choir MC308
2022 Performance: Choir Keyboard MC108
2022 Late Romantic to Contemporary Music MC402
2022 Baroque and Classical Music History MC207
2022 Performance, Keyboard, Conducting, Chorale MC208
2022 Performance, Tech Portfolio, Keyboard,Chorale MC403
2022 Theory Solfege/Methodology MC111