Pictured L-R: Dr Kathleen Turner, Member of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, UL; Professor Helen Phelan, Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, UL; President Dermot Nestor, President of MIC; Dr Ailbhe Kenny, Associate Professor of Music Education at MIC; and Dr Chrysi Kyratsou, MUSPACE Postdoctoral Researcher Fellow at MIC.
Mary Immaculate College (MIC), in partnership with the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick (UL), hosted the 17th International Conference on Cultural Diversity in Music Education (CDIME) from September 30 to October 2, 2025. The landmark event brought nearly 100 delegates from more than 20 countries to Limerick, where they explored the theme, Living Diversity, Imagining Inclusivity. The event was led by Conference Chair, Dr Ailbhe Kenny, Associate Professor of Music Education at MIC.
Since its establishment in 1992, CDIME has travelled the globe—from Kathmandu to Cape Town, Helsinki and beyond—and continues to serve as a vital international forum for exchanging research, practice, and ideas on cultural diversity in music education.
This year’s gathering featured a rich programme of papers, panels, lightning talks, workshops, performances, a film screening, and a book launch, reflecting a diverse range of genres, practices, and traditions.
The conference also created space for solidarity with scholars and practitioners unable to travel due to geopolitical barriers or migration policies, by sharing their contributions digitally with delegates.
The event was headlined by two internationally acclaimed keynote speakers. Rhiannon Giddens, a Grammy-winning artist and cultural advocate, known for her work reclaiming African American musical heritage. Joining her was Nasim Niknafs, a professor at the University of Toronto whose research focuses on critical pedagogy and inclusive approaches to music education.
Welcoming the event, Dr Ailbhe Kenny said:
“We are very excited to welcome the global CDIME community to Limerick this year. This conference promises critical debate, deep reflection and progressive conversations around belonging and inclusivity in music education and related fields. It also builds on the four-year Research Ireland-funded MUSPACE project, which explores agency and belonging in intercultural schools.”
Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL, Professor Helen Phelan said: “It has never been more important to be part of global explorations of belonging and inclusivity. We are delighted to partner with our music education colleagues in Mary Immaculate College to celebrate the potential of music and education to contribute to this conversation.”
The conference also featured the launch of Music Refuge: Living Asylum through Music by Dr Kenny, published by Oxford University Press. The book explores how music creates spaces of belonging and hope for those seeking asylum and refuge.
To purchase a hardback copy of Music Refuge: Living Asylum through Music, click here.
