BA Voice
LM134
Introduction

The BA Voice is a four-year, full-time undergraduate programme designed to develop your vocal performance skills, repertoire and knowledge of your practice. You will advance your performance and scholarly knowledge and you will also be introduced to other performance practices, enhancing your creative potential.  You will study a number of practical, research and vocational modules which will help you to focus your artistic practice into a fulfilling career.

Entry to first year is through the CAO code LM134 BA Voice. You will develop your vocal performance practice through weekly one-to-one, choral, ensemble, theatre and solo performance classes.  All BA Voice students also take a variety of skills classes in keyboard, music theory, sight-singing and conducting, ensuring that singers graduate with a high standard of transferrable skills for work in the field.

Students engage academically with classical, popular, traditional and world music and dance through a performative lens, and from second year onwards, BA Voice students undertake specialist academic modules in vocal pedagogy and voice studies as well as shared performance technology, community music and music education modules with students from different programmes.

Vocalists engaged in this course at the Irish World Academy will experience a range of vocal styles and traditions. Students enter the programme from popular(CCM), music theatre/stage school, singer/songwriter, folk, sacred or choral backgrounds (among others). You will find that the core aspects of the programme will support your engagement with multiple styles, broadening and deepening your approach to vocal performance and developing functional awareness of your instrument. The Academy has an unparalleled team of faculty and tutors who will guide and facilitate the growth of students as vocal performers and academics.

As a student, you will be based in the world-class facilities of the Irish World Academy building, equipped to the highest standards with cutting edge performance and rehearsal spaces and technological infrastructure. Tuition is provided by a faculty of excellent performers and academics, as well as industry professionals and international guest artists and researchers.

The programme prepares you for many different career paths including professional performance; further study; work in cultural institutions; media related posts; archival work; performance production; portfolio careers combining the preceding and others in entrepreneurial ways.

Tutors

</strong>Dr Hannah Fahey

</strong>Dr Kathleen Turner

</strong>Marie Walshe

</strong>Jean McGlynn

</strong>Dr Kevin O’Carroll

</strong>Máire Keary-Scanlon

</strong>Hollie O Donoghue

</strong>Steve Ryan

</strong>Ewa Zak-Dyndal

Eóin Scanlon

 

 

 

Programme of Study

Programme of Study

Year 1

Semester 1

Performance 1A (MD4101)

Irish World Academy Practicum C1 (MD4091)

Critical Encounters with Irish Music and Dance (MU4001)

Critical Encounters with World Music and Dance (MU4011)

Elective

Semester 2

Performance 2A (MD4102)

Irish World Academy Practicum C2 (MD4111)

Critical Encounters with Western Art Music and Dance(MU4012)

Critical Encounters with Popular Music and Dance(MU4002)

Elective

Year 2

Semester 3

Performance 3A (MD4103)

Irish World Academy Practicum C3 (MD4092)

Voice Studies: Historical and Cross Cultural Perspectives (MU4023)

Performing Arts Technology (MD4113)

Elective

Semester 4

Performance 4A (MD4124)

Irish World Academy Practicum C4 (MD4112)

Vocal Pedagogy (MU4043)

</strong><b>Contextualising and Vocational Studies - Music and Dance Education / Community Music and Dance (MD4034)<strong>

Elective

Year 3

Semester 5

Cooperative Education

Semester 6 (Semester 6, Year 3 has an option for international Exchange)

Performance 5A (MD4106)

Irish World Academy Practicum C5 (MD4116)

Arts and Health (MU4106)

Research Skills: Ethnomusicology/Ethnochoreology/Arts Practice (MU4013)

Elective

Year 4

Semester 7

Performance 6A (MD4106)

Irish World Academy Practicum C6 (MD4147)

</strong>Irish World Academy Final Year Project 1 (MD4157)<strong>

</strong>Professional Skills for the Performing Arts (MD4007)<strong>

Elective

Semester 8

Performance 7A (MD4107)

Irish World Academy Practicum C1 (MD4128)

</strong>Irish World Academy Final Year Project 2 (MD4138)<strong>

Materials and Context for Vocal Performance(MU4004)

Elective

Applications

HOW TO APPLY:

All Irish and EU applications (including mature applications) are processed by the CAO (www.cao.ie).  Applications from outside the European Union are processed by the international office of the University (http://www.ul.ie/international/)

Entry to the programme is through CAO code  LM134 BA Voice

Students can apply with Leaving Certificate and QQI qualifications.  For details of QQI requirements please see the QQI Booklet.  Students can also gain access to the second year of BA through our own Certificate in Music and Dance.

 

All enquiries in relation to admission of students should be addressed to the course director (details below) or:

Admissions Office

University of Limerick

Limerick

tel : +353-61-202700

email : admissions@ul.ie 

Web sites:  https://ulsites.ul.ie/admissions/

SCHOLARSHIPS:

Click here for a list of scholarships available to prospective Irish World Academy of Music and Dance students.

Auditions

The audition for the BA Voice LM134 at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick will be conducted either online or in person (the choice will be made by the applicant).  Face-to-face auditions will take place on the weekend of the 25th and 26th March 2023.

Audition Criteria:

  • Perform two contrasting songs.
  • Songs may be in any style/genre.
  • Accompaniment: applicants may use backing tracks, self accompany, bring an accompanist or sing without accompaniment.

 

– Face-to-face: Applicants attend the audition at the Irish World Academy building to perform two songs and interview.

Or

– Online: Applicants will be invited to submit a video recording of their performance of two songs and attend a remote interview.

Applicants will be contacted, usually at the start of March by the University admissions department and invited to submit online audition materials or schedule a face-to-face audition.

Up to 200 audition points may be awarded to LM134 applicants for 2023 admission.

After your audition, the Admissions Department of the University will contact you to let you know the outcome.

Key Areas Assessed at BA Voice Audition:

  1. Vocal ability: Through the performance of two contrasting songs at audition, applicants will demonstrate vocal ability.
  • Sing your selected songs in a key that is comfortable e.g. are there parts that feel too low or too high for your voice?
  • The panel will listen for key musical elements such as pitch and rhythmic accuracy.
  1. Technical skills: The panel will assess vocal technique choices in your two chosen songs.
  • Consider a technical approach that is best suited to the repertoire that you have chosen.
  • Think about what you can show us in your song contrast. (E.g. two different styles or a mood contrast – happy/sad; fast/slow)
  1. Overall performance quality: impact of the performance.
  • Confident delivery of your two songs.
  • Communication of the text within your chosen repertoire e.g. if it is a musical theatre song, consider character, context and style as appropriate.
  • If you sing a self composed song, think about artistry and performance quality.
  1. Experience and motivation: Articulation of prior performance experience and motivation to study the BA Voice.
  • To understand more about your musical background, tell us about any relevant performance experience, music/singing exams or instruments that you play.
  • What motivates you to study BA Voice and what are your career ambitions?

 

Media

Student Perspective:

“My favourite aspect of the programme was the opportunity for personal development and creativity. Practical lessons, accompanied by academic classes, prepared me for multiple performance possibilities, ranging from pop and jazz to classical and musical Theatre.  That would not have been possible without the inspiring tutors and lecturers that call the Academy home.

Coming from Bulgaria, for me, UL was a leap of faith. It was my first time living away from home, my first time in an English-speaking country, and most importantly, the first time I believed in myself and my dreams. I am humbled and honoured to have been able to spend four years as a student at UL. This course has changed my life in ways I would never have imagined. The friends I made, the lessons I learned, will stay with me forever.

My advice to all prospective students is to just jump. One leap of faith for the best four years in your life.” – Yordanka Tegarkova

International Exchange

For information on the international exchange options available in the third year of study please see this link.

Contact

Enquiries in relation to the course can be made to:

Dr Hannah Fahey

Course Director, BA Voice

Room No: IW1.19,

Irish World Academy of Music and Dance,

University of Limerick,

Limerick, Ireland.

Tel: +353-61-202958

e-mail: Hannah.Fahey@ul.ie