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Music students at ��ɫ��Ƶ were treated to an open rehearsal by world renowned musicians from the Grammy award-winning Silkroad Ensemble.

Taking place at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, the workshop was led by Rhiannon Giddens, Artist-in-Resident at the Academy and Artistic Director of the Silkroad Ensemble. 

Giddens, a two-time Grammy award-winning musician, MacArthur recipient and Pulitzer Prize winner, was joined by Silkroad Ensemble members Francesco Turrisi, Niwel Tsumbu, and Mazz Swift, as well as guest musician Mauro Durante.

Described by those in attendance as ‘truly inspiring’, the workshop gave music students from the Irish World Academy the opportunity to learn from world-class musicians who have thrilled audiences across the globe.   

Rhiannon Giddens, the renowned North Carolina folk singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and champion of the marginalised elements of the American musical tradition, has been Artist-in-Residence ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Irish World Academy since 2022 where she regularly engages with UL students.

This was the first time that Giddens was joined at the Academy by members of the Silkroad Ensemble, a touring ensemble comprised of world-class musicians and a social impact organisation that strives to make a positive impact across borders through the arts.

Speaking about the workshop, Rhiannon Giddens said: "It was so great to work with ��ɫ��Ƶ students at our recent Silkroad workshop. They had such great questions, observations and an inspiring energy for making the world a better place.”

Viktoria Gergova, a student on the BA Voice ��ɫ��Ƶ, described the workshop as ‘a wonderful opportunity’.

Enthralled by their performance, she said: “Watching Silkroad and Rhiannon Giddens work together felt like a trance. You forget where you are and why you are there, and all you feel is the soul of the music they create on the spot. 

“You can see how each of them brings a different colour to the sound – trained differently and not necessarily feeling music the same way – yet their creation feels so uniform. 

“Events like this are truly inspiring for students of the Irish World Academy.”

Professor Helen Phelan, Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance ��ɫ��Ƶ, said, "The musicians of the Silkroad Ensemble embody ethical artistry, creative risk-taking and deep knowledge of the wellsprings of cultural practices and processes. 

“Working with musicians of this calibre and vision can be transformative for our students in the Irish World Academy."

Rhiannon Giddens has a long-standing relationship with the Irish World Academy and before taking up the position of Artist-in-Residence at the Academy, the world-renowned musician taught on UL’s MA in Songwriting. 

Giddens recently reunited with her Carolina Chocolate Drops bandmates, Dom Flemons and Justin Robinson, to record a new single ahead of the release of the 15^th anniversary edition of their Grammy-winning album ‘Genuine Negro Jig’. She will also embark on a US tour with Silkroad Ensemble in March before taking to the road for her solo tour across the States in April. 

The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance offers a suite of taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in music and dance related subject areas and recently relaunched their BA World Music as the BA Music.

The BA Music is an innovative, globally conceived contemporary performance-based music course for students from any musical background that welcomes students from any genre, including western classical, pop, rock, metal, hip-hop, experimental music, jazz, folk, traditional music, electronica, or others.  

To celebrate this new course, the award-winning Limerick musician and UL graduate, MuRLi, has been collaborating with UL students to create a contemporary hip hop piece that incorporates elements of Javanese gamelan. 

Commenting on the newly launched BA Music course, Professor Helen Phelan, Director of the Irish World Academy, said, "There was a time when a degree in music meant studying western music and a degree in world music covered everything else. Our new BA Music is globally conceived and combines the best of both these worlds. 

“Students can come from any musical background and explore cultural traditions from around the world – from contemporary to traditional, from medieval Europe to classical India and beyond.

“The BA Music at the Irish World Academy promises a rich and multifaceted musical environment within which each student navigates their own creative journey."