Between November 2025 and March 2026, participants will receive eight one-to-one instrumental lessons with the relevant musician, in addition to three group lessons with others playing the same instrument. The project will conclude with three large ensemble sessions, where all participants will join together with the professional musicians to play the music learned during the project. As well as playing together, the participants will enjoy three informal coffee sessions which will include chats on wide-ranging musical topics.

Please note, participants must be available on all of the dates listed.

Places are limited to 15. Priority will be given on a first-come-first-served basis, however additional criteria that will be taken into account for selection include availability of teaching slots, geographical spread throughout the county, availability of instruments, playing experience and ability to partake in the full programme.

Project Dates (Nov 2025 - March 2026):

*For individual instrumental lessons 1-8, participants will each be allocated a 40 minute slot within the time frames set out below. Introductory session, group lessons, coffee sessions and ensemble sessions involve all participants for the full duration.

All events will take place at Wicklow County Campus, Clermont House, Newrath, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.

Thursday 6th Nov, 2 - 3pm - Introductory Session (everyone)
Thursday 13th Nov, 2 - 5.40pm - Individual lesson 1*
Thursday 20th Nov, 2 - 5.40pm - Individual lesson 2*
Thursday 27th Nov, 2 - 5.40pm - Individual lesson 3*
Thursday 4th Dec, 2 - 5.40pm - Individual lesson 4*
Thursday 11th Dec, 2 - 3.30pm - Group lesson 1 (all instruments in their groups)
Thursday 11th Dec, 3.30-5pm - Coffee session 1 (everyone)
BREAK
Thursday 8th Jan, 2 - 5.40pm - Individual lesson 5*
Thursday 15th Jan, 2 - 5.40pm - Individual lesson 6*
Thursday 22nd Jan, 2 - 5.40pm - Individual lesson 7*
Thursday 29th Jan, 2 - 3.30pm - Group lesson 2 (all instruments in their groups)
Thursday 29th Jan, 3.30 - 5pm - Coffee session 2 (everyone together)
Thursday 5th Feb, 2 - 5.40pm - Individual lesson 8*
Thursday 12th Feb, 2 - 3.30pm - Group lesson 3 (all instruments in their groups)
Thursday 12th Feb, 3.30 - 5pm - Coffee session 3 (everyone)
Thursday 19th Feb, 2 - 5pm - Ensemble Session 1 (everyone)
Friday 6th Mar, 2 - 5pm - Ensemble Session 2 (everyone)
Friday 13th Mar, 2 - 5pm - Ensemble Session 3 (everyone)

*Please note, dates may be subject to change, with the agreement of artists and participants

After debut UK shows with the Nest Collective and a run of summer performances at home, Patrick stefan entered 2025 at full tilt. Last year Patrick signed with Mahogany Songs, lit up Folk Alliance USA, Ireland Music Week, Showing Roots, and Whelan’s Ones to Watch, and was named Musician in Residence at St. John’s, Listowel. Now he’s cementing his place as a must-see live act, captivating audiences with an effortless, hypnotic presence.

Son to Columbia-releasing Dutch songwriter Jack Groenland, Patrick followed his father’s folk-footsteps after an array of sideman collaborations as an instrumentalist with artists like Niwel Tsumbu (Rhiannon Giddens), Martin Hayes (with the award-winning Ensemble Ériu) & 2017 Eurovision winner Luisa Sobral.

Patrick - an award-winning songwriter - released his debut album Wayfare, an indie-folk journey of Patrick's ancestry & of his own travels from Scandinavia, Brazil & west Africa, his songs speaking to the intimate and profound, tipped by the likes of Nialler9 & BBC’s Across The Line for his unique sound & featuring on RTE Radio1 playlists & Spotify editorial playlists.

Patrick stefan has supported Niamh Regan, Vieux Farka Toure, Kean Kavanagh, Lewis McLaughlin, Eric Chenaux & more, is an Irish Arts Council Next Generation awardee, winner of the inaugural Night & Day festival song competition with the song Head Voices and an ISC songwriting semi-finalist. Patrick is endorsed by Tanglewood Guitars.

Born in Dublin, Claire Sherry discovered her passion for music at a young age, setting the stage for a distinguished and dynamic career as a multi-instrumentalist. A celebrated All-Ireland champion, Claire is a master of the fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, tin whistle, and viola.

Her exceptional versatility and commitment to her craft have earned her recognition within traditional Irish music circles and beyond. In 2004, she graduated with honours in Music and Geography from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Her academic journey allowed her to explore composition, arrangement, and a broad range of musical genres—further refining her artistry and expanding her creative scope.

Claire has performed extensively across Europe and the United States. Over the past eight years, she has worked closely with Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, participating in and coordinating cultural exchange programs in Malawi, Kenya, and Ethiopia. These international experiences have enriched her musical vision and deepened her cultural awareness.

A respected music educator, Claire has influenced a generation of musicians both in Ireland and internationally. She manages over twenty musicians at the world-renowned Johnnie Fox’s Pub, where she regularly performs as part of their famous “Hooley Nights”. Claire also curates and manages music for corporate and private events at premier venues delivering bespoke musical experiences that showcase the best of Irish traditional music.

Claire’s career is marked by a long list of accolades and impactful performances. Whether on stage or in the classroom, her dedication to both preserving and innovating traditional Irish music continues to inspire audiences and students alike. Her legacy is one of passion, excellence, and enduring cultural contribution.

Tim Doyle is a violinist/concertina player/uilleann piper, composer and music educator. As a composer/performer he has collaborated with musicians, composers, theatre and film directors, visual artists, synesthetes, actors, dancers and choreographers as across a wide range of genres and for audiences as young as 2 weeks old. He currently performs with groups Na Cauci and Amerghin and is a member of the ‘BabyLovesMusic’ ensemble. Recent performances of his compositions include the premiere of his new 10 minute work ‘Suantraí, Goltraí agus Geantraí’ composed for the Woodpeckers Recorder Quartet. In March 2025 he premiered the work ‘Topophilia’ for uilleann pipes and mixed ensemble, which he performed alongside the Crash Ensemble at New Music Dublin 2025. He is the recent recipient of a creative bursary from DLR County Council and is in the process of creating a large scale work for uilleann pipes, harp, electronics and found sound. He is the current artistic director for the traditional music festival ‘The Sugarloaf Session’ which combines digital experiences and learning of Irish traditional music with an in-person festival, lessons and music session.

Tim is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He currently teaches on the Music Generation programme in Co. Wicklow and lectures part- time in music performance and music theory at the Bray Institute of Further Education