Announcing the Participants of the Galway City and County Music Writer Mentoring Scheme

From left to right: Sharon O’Grady (Galway County Council), Massimo Cattaneo, Rachel Deckard, James Fleming, Tara Broderick, Jake Tiernan, Toner Quinn, James Harrold (Galway City Council) (absent: Kerri Haberlin) (Photo: Boyd Challenger)

Announcing the Participants of the Galway City and County Music Writer Mentoring Scheme

Six writers to take part in scheme to increase coverage of music in the west.

The Journal of Music is delighted to announce the successful applicants to the 2019 Music Writer Mentoring Scheme for Galway City and County, supported by Galway City Council, Galway County Council and the Arts Council.

The four participants from Galway City are Rachel Deckard, Massimo Cattaneo, Jake Tiernan and Kerri HaberlinThe two participants from Galway County are James Fleming and Tara Broderick.

The scheme will run over 12 months, during which time each writer will be assigned music events to review, and The Journal of Music editorial team will work with the writers towards publication. The group met for their first workshop in Galway on 5 March.

Commenting on the scheme, Toner Quinn, Editor of The Journal of Music, said:

We are thrilled to work with six new writers in Galway City and County. Finding and encouraging  new writing talent is key for any publisher, but these schemes bring even more: insights into new musical scenes, exposure to new artists and composers, and fresh ideas on creativity. We love diversity of opinion, and diversity in music, at The Journal of Music – and that’s what this scheme helps us achieve.

Find out more about the participants in the Galway City scheme below.

The Journal of Music/Galway City Council Participants 2019


Rachel Deckard, Massimo Cattaneo, James Harrold (Galway City Council) and Jake Tiernan (Photo: Boyd Challenger)

Rachel Deckard is a piano teacher and music student based in Galway. Having previously studied piano with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, she completed a QQI course in Music Theory & Composition from Galway Technical Institute in 2016 and has continued to study music theory and practice in her free time. She has also worked occasionally as a church pianist and vocalist and is currently preparing for her next gig at a family wedding in Spain. Rachel has had a keen interest in creative writing since childhood and is very excited at the opportunity to combine her love of writing and music within Galway’s vibrant music scene. She has a diverse range of musical interests ranging from classical and jazz to alternative and experimental. 

Massimo Cattaneo is currently completing his PhD in Spanish and Ethnomusicology in NUI Galway (co-supervised by the University of Limerick). He is a recipient of the NUI Galway Doctoral Fellowship. Massimo’s research focusses on the introduction of flute in flamenco and its effects on identity and on notions of purity and authenticity. A former participant of the Access Music Project, Galway, he has qualifications in music theory, piano and vocals. From 2010 to 2014, Massimo wrote, presented and produced The Spinning World, a world music radio programme for Flirt FM. He has also worked in music production with  Improvised Music Company. Massimo plays Irish traditional flute, flamenco guitar and bass. 

Jake Tiernan is from Galway and is 20 years old. He has played bass and guitar since he was 15. Jake co-hosts a radio show on Flirt FMThe In-house Drive-bywhich is a weekly music history show, providing listeners with in-depth explorations of a particular group’s origins, discography and influences, focussing mainly on punk and alternative music. He has a particular interest in music as a catalyst for cultural change and is seeking to make a career in music journalism.

Kerri Haberlin is an arts practitioner currently working in Dublin but based in Galway. Having studied Music Technology and Production at Limerick Institute of Technology followed by an MA in Festive Arts from the University of Limerick, Kerri has pursued her love for music and the arts, whether it be behind the scenes as an organiser at festivals such as Spraoi in Waterford or performing on stage as a singer. Currently working with BIMM in Dublin, Kerri is always keen to hear new talent and support local musicians. 

The Journal of Music/Galway County Council Participants 2019


James Fleming, Sharon O’Grady (Galway County Council) and Tara Broderick (Photo: Boyd Challenger)

James Fleming is a writer and musician. Born in California and raised in Ireland, he has contributed to Golden PlecAll About Jazz and Hifi Pig. He has also played in various rock and punk garage bands. James studied Digital Media: Radio and Journalism at Galway Technical Institute and has been writing about music ever since. Genres of interest include alternative musics, jazz and roots music, and, on the writing side, creative non-fiction and speculative fiction. His favourite artists include John Coltrane, Joan Didion, Captain Beefheart, Richard Brautigan, Mary Gauthier and James Baldwin.       

Tara Broderick is a graduate of CIT Cork School of Music with an Honours Bachelor of Music. She studied voice under Rob Craig and developed a keen interest in music education and choral music. Tara has sung with many award-winning choirs including Capella Lyrica and the Irish Youth Choir. Eager to learn more about the music industry, Tara completed Hot Press magazine’s Music Industry Xplained (MIX) course in 2017. She is in the final semester of a Professional Master of Education (Music) degree in University of Limerick and hopes to promote the value of the arts and arts education for young people on completion of her studies.

To find out more about our Music Writer Mentoring Schemes, visit http://journalofmusic.com/page/music-writer-mentoring-schemes

Published on 11 March 2019

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