Dr. Margaret O’Sullivan, Head of Quality, Support & Development with the Music Generation National Development Office was formerly Coordinator/Music Development Officer with Music Generation Cork City (2012 – 2022). She is a proud alumnus of UCC with a B.Mus. (1992), International Development Studies (2010), M.Res. (2015), along with Arts Management postgraduate studies from NUIG (1993). The 2017 recipient of the NUI Denis Phelan Travelling Studentship she continues Doctoral studies in Curriculum & Pedagogy at Vancouver’s University of British Columbia (UBC), supported by UBC International Tuition and Faculty of Education funding, inquiring into the conceptualisation of quality in community music education amongst musician-educators, children and young people.

Margaret has held senior music and arts roles including delivering the music programme for Cork 2005: European Capital of Culture; CEO of the Association of Irish Choirs, first Performing Arts Coordinator of the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance at the University of Limerick and first Education Officer with Galway Arts Centre. Prior to her engagement as consultant to write the successful bid for Music Generation funding, Margaret ran an independent consultancy practice providing services for many of the leading cultural organisations in Ireland. Clients included Arts Councils of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Culture Ireland, Local Authorities, and key music and performing arts organisations and artists. Music Generation is Ireland’s national music education programme initiated by Music Network, funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and The Department of Education & Skills, in partnership with Cork City Council, Cork Education & Training Board, The Health Service Executive, University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology and Cork City Partnership.