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Traditional & Folk Song Circle


Led by a renowned voice teacher, our new Traditional & Folk Song Circle is an opportunity to connect with a great community of singers. No experience is necessary!

More Information

Description

Join the New School’s new Traditional & Folk Song Circle and connect with a great community of singers. Participants learn and explore the huge of range of great songs and ballads in the traditional and folk song repertoire – including songs of hope, songs of protest, songs of exile, work songs, lullabies and songs inspired by the natural world. These songs connect us with our social history, our cultures and our ancestral stories, and they are rich in symbolism.

Circle participants will not only experience the unique pleasures and both health and well-being benefits of group singing, they will also:

  • Build community and social connection through the sharing of song.
  • Learn songs as a group and share individual songs.
  • Learn about the themes embedded in folk and traditional song history.
  • Explore the context and background of the songs, both to enrich our understanding of them and for personal reflection.

Is this group for you?

The Traditional & Folk Song Circle is open to anyone, at any level, who loves singing. We will cover basic vocal techniques that may include vocal warmups, breath control and support. But most of all, we will explore songs from around the world, with a particular emphasis on Irish, Scottish, English and Appalachian songs. Students are encouraged to sing songs that resonate with them personally, and the teacher will make recommendations based on her extensive knowledge of these traditions. If you want to sing, share and learn new songs in a safe, encouraging and joyful environment – then this group is for you.


Questions about the Song Circle?

CONTACT US

or call us on (01) 478 1884.


Fee Discount

Students concurrently enrolled for private or group tuition at the New School receive a 20% discount off the fees for the Song Circle.

Siobhán Kavanagh

Siobhán KavanaghSiobhán is a voice teacher and music facilitator specialising in performance, building repertoire and adapting to the needs of each student. She has a diverse musical background, having studied jazz, classical singing, opera performance and interdisciplinary vocal techniques. She was awarded the Paul Brady Bursary to study Irish traditional styles of singing, including unaccompanied singing such as séan-nós. She holds a First Class Honours BA in Music and Anthropology from Maynooth University and studied opera performance for an Erasmus year at the renowned University of Oslo in Norway. More recently, she received a First Class Honours MA in Ethnomusicology from the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance at the University of Limerick, where she continued her studies of Irish traditional singing, researched unaccompanied traditional singing circles in Dublin and unravelled some of the history behind traditional songs, as well as exploring Middle Eastern singing techniques. Singing has provided Siobhán with many performance opportunities, and she has toured extensively with live bands on national and international stages. She also works collaboratively with artists, composers, dancers, curators and circus practitioners and has been commissioned to compose songs, music and soundscapes for films, live art performance and music events. In 2021, Siobhán received the Agility Award from the Irish Arts Council to develop a new performance piece entitled Up Jumps Johnny, which premiered at Ó Riada Hall for the Cork Midsummer Festival in June 2022. She also loves to facilitate singing circles, bringing people together from all backgrounds regardless of their experience and abilities to share songs. Her singing circle at the Cashel Arts Festival in 2022 was a huge success and featured at the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival in 2023.


‘I believe singing is one of the most effective ways to bring people together. I love working with singers and aim to provide a safe space to sing. Practicing singing helps build confidence to perform, engage and connect with the wider music community. I also encourage students to try different genres and styles of music to experiment, have fun and explore a variety of vocal techniques. I work with students to protect the voice, develop strong technique and build repertoires. The styles I like to teach include Irish traditional, classical, jazz, rock and contemporary.’

2025-2026 Song Circle Schedule

Tuesdays 12.30 – 2 pm

Full Year (32 weeks)
30 September 2025 – 16 June 2026
First Term (10 weeks)
(No class on 28 October – Mid-Term Break)
30 September – 9 December 2025
Second Term (12 weeks)
6 January – 24 March 2026
Third Term (10 weeks)
14 April – 16 June 2026

2025-2026 Song Circle Fees

ENROLMENT FULL FEE DISCOUNT ¹ PAYMENT PLAN OPTION ²
1st Term
(10 weeks)
€220 €176 Full Fee Only
Deposit €114 + one payment (1 Nov) of €114
1st-2nd Terms
(22 weeks)
€400 €320

Full Fee
Deposit €140 + two payments (1 Nov, 1 Dec) of €138

Discount
Deposit €112 + two payments (1 Nov, 1 Dec) of €112

1st-3rd Terms
(32 weeks)
€520 €416

Full Fee
Deposit €136 + three payments (1 Nov, 1 Dec, 1 Jan) of €136

Discount
Deposit €110 + three payments (1 Nov, 1 Dec, 1 Jan) of €110

2nd Term
(12 weeks)
€250 €200 Full Fee Only
Deposit €129 + one payment (1 Feb) of €129
2nd-3rd Terms
(22 weeks)
€400 €320

Full Fee
Deposit €140 + two payments (1 Mar, 1 Apr) of €138

Discount
Deposit €112 + two payments (1 Mar, 1 Apr) of €112

3rd Term
(10 weeks)
€220 €176 Full Fee Only
Deposit €114 + one payment (1 Jun) of €114
  1. Students concurrently enrolled for private or group tuition at the New School receive a 20% discount off the fees for school ensembles. If you are interested in vocal tuition in addition to this group, see our Voice (Singing) Tuition page for more information.
  2. Students have the option of paying an initial deposit and distributing payments by means of post-dated cheques or credit/debit-card payments (in either case, payments are made on the first day of each month). Single term payment plans are accepted only if enrolment takes place before the Circle begins each term (30 September 2025, 6 January 2026 or 14 April 2026). Although there are no finance charges, payment plan fees include an additional processing charge of €8 per instalment payment.

Enrolment

Enrolment in the Traditional & Folk Song Circle requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the ensemble fee or payment plan arrangement, if applicable. Places in the Song Circle are limited are limited to ten, and we recommend early enrolment.

ENROL NOW


Late Enrolment
New members can join the Song Circle, subject to places being available, up to two weeks after it starts each term. Tuition fees for late-enrolling students depend on the number of classes remaining in the term or year. See the following pages for more information:

First Term Late Enrolment Fees
Second Term Late Enrolment Fees
Third Term Late Enrolment Fees


Purchasing a Song Circle enrolment as a gift?
Please complete a Gift Certificate Booking Form.

BOOK NOW


Questions about the Song Circle?

CONTACT US

or call us on (01) 478 1884.

Traditional & Folk Song Circle
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