Edel Meade received the prestigious Fulbright-Creative Ireland Professional Fellowship Award and Mary McPartlan Bursary in a ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs at Iveagh House, Dublin on Thursday 9th June 2022 - the only professional artist and musician in the country to receive this award out of the 40 selected candidates.
Edel will be based at the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley for 6 months from January 2023 exploring the intersection between jazz and traditional Irish song under the mentorship of world-leading jazz educators. Her Award will culminate in a world premiere live concert performance in collaboration with Bay Area musicians at the California Jazz Conservatory in June 2023. Edel is a recipient of the Fulbright Ireland Mary McPartlan Fund.
Edel recently completed a nationwide tour to promote her latest solo album, 'Brigids and Patricias' which was described as the "most courageous Irish album of the year (2021)" in The Irish Times. Edel teaches at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL and is a graduate of the MA Songwriting programme and the MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance at UL with First Class Honours, and a graduate of the BA in Jazz Performance from Newpark Music Centre.
Innovative new research will have lasting impacts for society
The Fulbright Program has served to strengthen international relations for seventy-five years. The Fulbright Commission in Ireland’s vision of inspiring minds to create a global culture of understanding is more important than ever in today’s increasingly polarised world. This year’s Irish awardees will undertake research, teaching and study in the USA spanning many disciplines. They will address pressing societal issues, engage with U.S. society, and share their knowledge when they return home.
The next round of applications for Fulbright Irish Awards will open on 31st August 2022, interested candidates should visit www.fulbright.ie for more information.
