Jennifer McCay

Dr. Jennifer McCay is a Lecturer in Harmony, Counterpoint, Music History, and Junior Musicianship at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM), where she also serves as a Senior Examiner (2011-2015). She holds a PhD from University College Dublin, focusing on the orchestral music of composer Kevin O’Connell, and a BMusEd from Trinity College Dublin. Her research explores modernist musical identity, particularly in Irish and Nordic contexts, with a focus on O’Connell’s works and their cultural resonances.

Her academic contributions include articles in Nordlit and Musicology Review, as well as co-editing the Musicology Review. She is affiliated with the Society of Musicology in Ireland and the Arts Education Research Group at Trinity College Dublin. Beyond academia, McCay performs with the Hibernian Orchestra (violin) and Pro Nuova ensemble (pianist), integrating performance with scholarly pursuits.

Her teaching philosophy emphasizes foundational musicianship skills, as articulated in her 2014 conference paper on music theory pedagogy. Research interests span Irish musical heritage, globalization’s impact on music, and the interplay between composition and cultural identity.