The Irish Institute of Music & Song are hosting an International Songwriting Retreat from 24-30 July in Balbriggan, Dublin, Ireland. This is a seven day retreat held on the Irish Institute of Music & Song’s purpose-built music campus in Balbriggan, Dublin, only 20 mins from the airport and 5 mins from sandy beaches and historical castles. This amazing retreat, unique in Ireland, offers professional songwriters and serious amateurs from around the world, an opportunity to work with, and learn from, some of the best songwriting mentors in the industry. On this retreat, songwriters and musicians get the opportunity to relax, unwind, meet like-minded people, and develop their skills in a creative, immersive, and learning environment. All genres and styles are welcome, whether its solo songwriters, songwriting duos, or bands.
The 2023 International Songwriting Retreat mentors include Rob Wells from Canada, who has written songs for Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, alongside Maria Christensen from Los Angeles, who has written music for Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion. Other mentors on the retreat include, Shridhar Solanki from the UK, who has worked with Dua Lipa, Andrea Bocelli, Craig David and Carrie Underwood, and Ruth-Anne Cunningham from Ireland (L.A based), who has written music for Britney Spears, Westlife, JoJo and Niall Horan. All course attendees will get to work with these internationally acclaimed mentors who have written music for some of the world’s biggest record labels, including Universal, Warner and Sony.
The retreat costs €1,490, which includes seven days working with world renowned songwriting mentors, seven nights’ on-site accommodation in modern Japanese style pods, all meals from the onsite restaurant (breakfast, lunch, dinner), snacks (tea, coffee and biscuits). Also included is access to private rehearsal spaces and VIP membership to a series of six music industry talks in the evening which will be presented by some of Ireland’s best known songwriters, including Paddy Casey and Duke Special. Last but not least, at the end of the week all artists get to perform and record their new songs in Ireland’s new state-of-the art, 400 seat Concert Hall, ‘The Lark’. A non-resident package is also for €980, this excludes onsite accommodation and meals. Both packages are available to pay in easy instalments. All spaces are very limited. Please visit internationalsongwritingretreat.com to find out more and register your interest today.
IMRO has partnered with the Irish Institute of Music & Song to sponsor two scholarship places on the retreat. Each scholarship place is worth €1,490. If you are a songwriter, musician or band and would like to be in with a chance to be awarded a free scholarship to the International Songwriting Retreat please visit internationalsongwritingretreat.com and submit your application through the ‘scholarships’ page. Applicants must outline their songwriting career to date and send examples of their work. Closing date for scholarship applications is Friday, 16 June.. Two scholarship places will be awarded and announced on Friday, 23 June.
‘’We are very excited about working with the Irish Institute of Music & Song and supporting their new initiative, the International Songwriting Retreat in July, 2023. A big part of our mission at IMRO is being committed to creators, alongside that, it’s to educate, that’s why we are sponsoring two full scholarship places on the retreat, giving songwriters the opportunity to learn, develop and ultimately grow as songwriters.” IMRO CEO, Victor Finn.
“We have been working on this retreat for a few years now and are very excited that it is finally taking place in July. We are very proud to be partnering with IMRO who will be sponsoring two songwriting scholarship places on the retreat. This opportunity is second to none as the calibre of mentors on the course is literally world class.” Irish Institute of Music & Song CEO, Michael T Dawson,
The Irish Institute of Music & Song is a world-facing, not for profit, music organisation that provides unique music experiences and programmes to individuals, communities and businesses worldwide. It is Ireland’s only purpose-built music education campus. The campus consists of a music academy, Bedford House luxury accommodation, student accommodation, music degree/masters courses (coming soon), music wellness retreats, La La Café & Restaurant, and Concert Hall, all onsite together. Opening summer 2023 is the brand new state-of-the art 400 seat Concert Hall, ‘The Lark’. The Lark will host live music, theatre, comedy and more. The Irish Institute of Music is located 20 minutes from Dublin airport and 4 minutes from the train station and sandy beaches of Balbriggan, Dublin. See internationalsongwritingretreat.com and irishinstituteofmusic.com
