Biography

Dr Kathleen Turner is a singer, songwriter, community musician and vocal tutor at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, where she is Course Director for the Masters Degree in Community Music and teaches on a number of programmes including MA Songwriting and BA Performing Arts. She is an experienced community choral leader and has directed a number of significant performances. In 2011, Kathleen performed for the Dalai Lama during his visit to Limerick, both as a singer in the female chant ensemble ‘Terirem', and as a conductor, leading a children's choir in a specially composed piece, ‘Forgiveness is a Gift.' She is the conductor of the Irish World Academy Gospel Choir and the former conductor of the Limerick Gospel Choir and the University of Limerick Gospel Choir.Kathleen recently completed a Ph.D in Arts Practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, exploring the role of music in the process of social regeneration. She also holds two Masters Degrees from the University of Limerick, MA Community Music and MA Ritual Chant and Song. In 2008 she was invited by the Irish Chamber Orchestra to pilot a Sistema inspired initiative in Limerick City. The programme, Sing Out with Strings, now provides 300 children annually with free access to singing, songwriting and instrumental tuition. From 2008 – 2014, Kathleen was Community Engagement Manager for the Irish Chamber Orchestra, implementing a number of projects that bring live music into the classroom and community. She continues to maintain a strong relationship with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and Sing Out with Strings.

Research Interests

Dr. Kathleen Turner completed her doctoral research in 2017 in the role of community music in social regeneration, with particular focus on issues of power, language and identity concerning children and young people. Her work, both as a performer and as a researcher, centres on the profound potential music holds in instigating tangible social change.

Themes include:
  • the importance of policy language (community music, music education and regeneration theory) and its impact on perceptions of youth
  • the importance of children's voices in the development of a new regeneration discourse
  • possible implications for how community artists are trained to work / approach their practice with communities in areas of socio-economic disadvantage
  • contribution to the emerging canon of Arts Practice Research, specifically in the area of narrative inquiry and auto ethnography



Professional Activities

Award

  • 2017 - Jerome Hynes Fellowship

Committee

  • 2014 Committee for Non-mainstream Department of Education and Skills Funded Music Education, Non-mainstream music education and community music programmes
  • 2013 Music Generation Limerick City, Working group and steering committee for the proposal, funding and development of Music Generation Limerick City. Part funded by Ireland Funds, U2 and local authority.

Education

  • 2008 University of Limerick - Master of Arts
  • 2007 University of Limerick - Master of Arts
  • 2005 University of Stirling - Bachelor of Arts (Hons)

Outreach

  • International Women's Day: Curating an annual concert hosted by the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, featuring prominent female performers in music, dance, poetry and theatre.
  • World Carnival: A joint initiative led by Dr Helen Phelan, supported by Sanctuary (Irish World Academy and HEA) exploring the use of world music to celebrate diverse cultures within the school environment. World Carnival was supported by musicians from the Irish Chamber Orchestra and students of Maria King Presentation Primary School, Limerick City.
  • Venezuelan Percussion Ensemble: Two days of community workshops and a family concert featuring members of the Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, hosted by the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
  • International Day of the Girl 2015: Two days of community performances and events in support of Plan International's Because I am a Girl campaign, in association with Limerick City and County Council, Limerick Milk Market and Limerick City Gym.
  • International Day of the Girl 2016: A two day mentoring programme with staff of the Irish World Academy and 25 female students from schools in Limerick City. This is a joint initiative with Limerick School of Art and Design (Fiona Quill) with colleagues Jennifer De Brún, Dr Niamh Ní Ghabhann and Hannah Fahey.
  • Sonas is Sláinte: Developed with colleagues Dr Hilary Moss and Dr Alpha Woodward, this is a series of student performances hosted by University Hospital Limerick, intended to improve experiences of the hospital environment for staff, patients and visitors. This is a joint initiative between the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (Community Music and Music Therapy) and University Hospital Limerick.

Peer Reviewed Journals

2020

Critique, not criticism; why we ask the questions we ask

Turner, K (2020) Critique, not criticism; why we ask the questions we ask. York Transform: New Voices in Community Music :4-14

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2017

'The Lines Between Us': Exploring the Identity of the Community Musician Through an Arts Practice Research Approach

Turner, K. (2017) 'The Lines Between Us': Exploring the Identity of the Community Musician Through an Arts Practice Research Approach. Voices: A World Forum For Music Therapy

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2012

The Limerick Lullaby project: An intervention to relieve prenatal stress.

Carolan, M., Barry, M., Gamble, M., Turner, K., & Mascareñas, Ó. (2012) The Limerick Lullaby project: An intervention to relieve prenatal stress.. Midwifery :173-180

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2012

Experiences of pregnant women attending a lullaby programme in Limerick, Ireland: A qualitative study

Carolan, M,Barry, M,Gamble, M,Turner, K,Mascarenas, O (2012) Experiences of pregnant women attending a lullaby programme in Limerick, Ireland: A qualitative study. Midwifery :321-328

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Books

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Chapters

2021

Singing out, singing up

Turner, K. (2021) Singing out, singing up. New York : Routledge The Artist and Academia :219-222

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2021

Words of Choice: Challenging a discourse of disadvantage and social change in Community Music

Turner, K (2021) Words of Choice: Challenging a discourse of disadvantage and social change in Community Music. Waterloo : Wilfred Laurier University Press Community Music at the Boundaries

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Edited Books

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Other Journals

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Conference Publications

2022

Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education: Disrupt, Innovate, Regenerate and Transform, E and PDE 2022

Ni Bhriain O.M.;Kiernan L.B.;Hartigan B.;White E.;Fahy H.;Turner K. (2022) Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Engineering and Product Design Education: Disrupt, Innovate, Regenerate and Transform, E and PDE 2022.

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2016

Innovation and Change in Community Music: Proceedings of the XV International Seminar of the ISME Commission on Community Music Activity

Turner, K. (2016) Innovation and Change in Community Music: Proceedings of the XV International Seminar of the ISME Commission on Community Music Activity. :209-215

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Conference Contributions

2019

ICCM 5th Community Music Student Research Symposium in partnership with Sound Sense

Turner, K (2019) ICCM 5th Community Music Student Research Symposium in partnership with Sound Sense.

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2018

Identity and Justice Symposium

Turner, K (2018) Identity and Justice Symposium .

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2017

Society for Music Education in Ireland, 7th Annual Conference

Turner, K. (2017) Society for Music Education in Ireland, 7th Annual Conference.

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2017

Twelfth Annual Conference, The Arts in Society: Gestures That Matter

Turner, K. (2017) Twelfth Annual Conference, The Arts in Society: Gestures That Matter.

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2016

6th Annual Conference, Society for Music Education in Ireland

Mangaoang, A., Turner, K., Barnecutt, K. (2016) 6th Annual Conference, Society for Music Education in Ireland.

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2016

Community Music Activity Seminar (International Society for Music Education) 2016

Turner, K. (2016) Community Music Activity Seminar (International Society for Music Education) 2016.

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2016

International Ballad Commission, Annual Conference 2016: Songs of Liberation, Rebellion and Resistance

Turner, K. (2016) International Ballad Commission, Annual Conference 2016: Songs of Liberation, Rebellion and Resistance.

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2015

Inaugural National Community Music Student Research Conference

Turner, K. (2015) Inaugural National Community Music Student Research Conference.

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2014

Take a Stand Symposium

Turner, K. (2014) Take a Stand Symposium.

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2011

The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium VIII

Turner, K. (2011) The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium VIII.

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Published Reports

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Editorials

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Book Reviews

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Other Publications

2020

Puzzle: Music Video

Turner, K., Clayden, L. & Kosicki, D. (2020) Puzzle: Music Video.

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2020

Like a Lion: Music Video

Turner, K., De Brún, J. , Ní Cheallaigh, A., Dee, M. & Kosicki, D. (2020) Like a Lion: Music Video.

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2020

Arts Practice Research: Exploring the identity of the Community Musician through song and story,

Turner, K. (2020) Arts Practice Research: Exploring the identity of the Community Musician through song and story,. : Community Music Learning

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2019

Like a Lion: Album Launch

Turner, K. (2019) Like a Lion: Album Launch.

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2019

Like a Lion

Turner, K (2019) Like a Lion.

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2019

Like a Lion: Kathleen Turner on her debut album

Turner, K (2019) Like a Lion: Kathleen Turner on her debut album.

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2019

The Trouble with Intervention

Turner, K. (2019) The Trouble with Intervention. Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick

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2018

Creative Research Showcase

Corcoran, C., Devereux, E., Fitzgerald Moore, S., Ryan, D., Turner, K. (2018) Creative Research Showcase. Fab Lab, Limerick

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2018

'Spéirbhean'

Fahey, H. & Turner, K. (2018) 'Spéirbhean'.

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2018

Kindness in Leadership: Making an Organisational Commitment

Turner, K. (2018) Kindness in Leadership: Making an Organisational Commitment. London, UK : Clore Leadership Programme

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2018

Kathleen Turner and the Guinness Choir, St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

Turner, K. (2018) Kathleen Turner and the Guinness Choir, St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

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2018

Telling the Other Story: Narratives Without Borders

Turner, K. (2018) Telling the Other Story: Narratives Without Borders.

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2018

The Lines Between Us: Research Through Songwriting

Turner, K. (2018) The Lines Between Us: Research Through Songwriting. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

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2017

Kathleen Turner and Cara Dillon in Session: The Gerry Kelly Show. BBC Radio Ulster

Turner, K. & Dillon, C. (2017) Kathleen Turner and Cara Dillon in Session: The Gerry Kelly Show. BBC Radio Ulster.

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2017

Singing Our Way: Interrogating the Role of the Community Musician in a Process of Social Regeneration using an Arts Practice Research Approach

Turner, K. (2017) Singing Our Way: Interrogating the Role of the Community Musician in a Process of Social Regeneration using an Arts Practice Research Approach.

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2017

The Lines Between Us

Turner, K. (2017) The Lines Between Us.

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2017

'Time'

Turner, K. (2017) 'Time'.

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2017

The Lines Between Us: EP Launch

Turner, K. (2017) The Lines Between Us: EP Launch.

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2016

Some Stories Tour at Whelan's

Turner, K. (2016) Some Stories Tour at Whelan's.

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2016

Kathleen Turner at Paul McLoone First Sessions, Today FM

Turner, K. (2016) Kathleen Turner at Paul McLoone First Sessions, Today FM. Dublin : Today FM

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2016

The Lines Between Us: Doctoral Performance

Turner, K. (2016) The Lines Between Us: Doctoral Performance. : Digital Repository of Ireland, Arts and Culture in Education Research Repository

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2015

Ubuntu

Turner, K. (2015) Ubuntu.

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2015

Some Stories Tour at the Strule Arts Centre

Turner, K. (2015) Some Stories Tour at the Strule Arts Centre.

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2015

Some Stories Tour at the Black Box

Turner, K. (2015) Some Stories Tour at the Black Box.

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2015

Some Stories

Turner, K (2015) Some Stories.

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2014

Some Stories EP Launch

Turner, K. (2014) Some Stories EP Launch.

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2011

Singing lullabies in pregnancy: What benefits for women?

Carolan, M,Barry, M,Gamble, M,Turner, K,Mascarenas, O (2011) Singing lullabies in pregnancy: What benefits for women?. Women And Birth :29-29

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