Tola Custy is a fiddle player, composer and teacher from County Clare who has sought to create a unique sound whilst remaining sympathetic to the subtle nuances of Irish traditional music. Extensive touring has exposed Tola to Breton, Bulgarian, American and Maoiri music and he was reviewed as Critic’s Choice of the Week in the New York Times during a tour of the US in 2017.

Recent career highlights have included the Music Network commission Edges of Light (movements for fiddle, harp and uilleann pipes), and performances at Kilkenny, Dungarvan and Waterford Arts Festivals and the Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival, Waterville. In 2017, Tola participated in the Irish Presidential Tour of New Zealand with the group Motu-Oileáin, and he appeared in Wellington at Auckland Celtic Connections in 2016. He has also performed as a soloist on RTÉ Radio 1’s Arts Show.

Notable collaborations have included Maoiri supergroup Trinity Roots, the Irish Chamber Orchestra with harpist Laoise Kelly and flautist Cormac Breatnach, actor Bob Kelly, Theo Dorgan and Guidewires, (UK based Kan & Breton Musicians), Solo Cissokho (Senegalese kora player) and Gerry O’Beirne. Tola has appeared as a guest musician with Edi Reader, Flook, Lunasa, Mosaic, Alan Kelly Gang, Heidi Talbot and Stockton’s Wing, and has toured worldwide as a founding member of ensembles Calico, Guidewires, The Bowhouse Quintet, Dán, the Albiez Trio and Tradivarious.

Tola is also an experienced presenter and broadcaster, including appearances on Fleadh TV (TG4), The View, The Arts Show (RTÉ Radio 1), Geanntrai, Bosca Ceoil (TG4), and The Late Late Show (RTÉ).

As an educator, Tola works with students of all ages. He is a qualified primary school teacher and also provides regular mentoring and advice to MA and BA students at Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick. Tola has given masterclasses at festivals such as FolkWorks (Newcastle-Upon-Tyne) Traidphicnic (Spiddal), Edinburgh Harp Festival, Amzer Nevez (Brittany) and Ceol Aneas (New Zealand). He also takes up an annual residency at Burwell Bash, Cambridgeshire.

Dr Denise White FRSA is a multi-award-winning intellectual disability and music expert. Having over 30 years’ experience in the field of early years, primary, post-primary, special educational needs, further and higher education, Denise is known for her innovative and creative teaching methods that transforms lives. She is an advocate for inclusive and community-based ethical learning and teaching models. She specialises in working with children, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities and applies specific and innovative music programmes that enables expression, learning and progression.

Denise has a strong background in managing traditionally modern specialist education sites for children and young adults of different ages with learning difficulties, autism, and challenging behaviour. She is a passionate education advocate with the talent to develop inspiring hands-on lessons that will capture a student’s imagination and breed success.

Over the past number of years, Denise has secured several millions of pounds to deliver ground-breaking participant led projects, many of which have transformed the lives of individuals, families, and communities. As a researcher, Denise has founded a dynamic music system Conductology that has proven to enhance the lives of those with and without intellectual disabilities. She is currently Trustee of the Walled City Music Festival and is conducting dynamic research on inclusive creativity. Denise has delivered numerous talks, presentations, workshops on the theme of music and intellectual disability nationally and internationally.

Known as ‘The Music Doctor’, Denise is an Author at Bookhub Publishing. Her Music Doctor Series will launch in Autumn 2021. Denise is also a Speaker, Trainer, Consultant, Mentor and Researcher. She delivers SEN music, inclusion and creativity training and master class workshops. In her spare time, she likes to travel, walk, improvise, compose and listen to music.

Barnardos’ mission is to deliver services and work with families, communities, and partners to transform the lives of vulnerable children who are affected by adverse childhood experiences. Learning & development is an integral part of Barnardos’ Children’s Services - learning from practitioners and contributing knowledge to the field of social services.

They provide training to enhance reflective supervision of staff to ensure they are led by the child's need and their work remains outcomes - focused and to develop the skills needed in their roles.

The Barnardos Learning and Development Service offers a comprehensive range of innovative training which supports best practice and is suitable for anyone working with or caring for children. Professionals gain the knowledge and skills to enhance their work and ensure positive outcomes for children and families. This aim of the Children First training is to equip participants with the skills and knowledge that are necessary to deal with child protection issues in line with current legislation and guidelines

This three-part series with Liz Knowles is part of Taking Charge of Your Performance Career 2021, Music Network's online professional development series for musicians working in all genres. This is just one of a number of ways in which Music Network will support musicians throughout the year.