Cork’s own Inclusive Music Ensemble (IME) began as an initiative in 2021, evolving from the philosophy that everyone has the right to equal access to both education and culture. Now boasting sixteen participants, IME is an inclusive music group for artistic and creative expression, participation, and education.

Many of the learners have intellectual and physical disabilities, ranging from moderate to profound, that would usually exclude them from partaking in higher education institution (HEI) activities.

IME runs as a partnership between the MTU Cork School of Music and Cork Education and Training Board. The initiative offers academic credit to those who would not usually have access to such a creative, stimulating space in a HEI, facilitating social and cultural interaction between everyone involved through the medium of music and performance.

Consisting of three programmes of music study being co-delivered in a single co-learning setting at MTU Cork School of Music, the ensemble has worked over the past couple of years to create their first body of work. Their first studio EP IME will be released on Thursday, October 26, with a launch event at Crawford Art Gallery. The EP will also be available digitally on MTU Cork School of Music’s own label, CSM Sounds.

Hugh McCarthy, Senior Lecturer at the MTU Cork School of Music, shares of the release, “This launch marks a major milestone for the IME as we build our repertoire, exploring the future possibilities of the group and how we approach creativity and performing together. It also marks the release of our first co-created tracks! I believe that through our shared understanding the members of the IME are helping MTU and Cork ETB on their paths to greater accessibility for everyone to education, society, and culture.”

IME has performed at the MTU Cork School of Music, in Cork City Hall, and at the first Inclusive National Higher Education Forum (INHEF) symposium in November 2022. The inclusive, inspiring project has been shortlisted for the #ZeroCall2024 Project Awards, recognised for their work on inclusive education and information and communication technology.

The ensemble will release their debut EP IME during a launch event at Crawford Art Gallery at 5.30pm on Thursday, October 26.