citation for frank heneghan. - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of ...
citation for frank heneghan. - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of ...
citation for frank heneghan. - DIT Update - Dublin Institute of ...
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CITATION FOR FRANK HENEGHAN.<br />
A Uachtaráin agus a bhaill na hInstitiúide,<br />
Frank Heneghan was born in Tralee, Co. Kerry but was educated in O’Connell’s School in <strong>Dublin</strong> be<strong>for</strong>e attending<br />
University College <strong>Dublin</strong> where he read both engineering and music. Although he did spend the first sixteen years <strong>of</strong> his<br />
career working as an engineer, it was music which was ultimately to become his pr<strong>of</strong>ession and his passion. For let there be<br />
no doubt about it, Frank Heneghan is certainly passionate about all aspects <strong>of</strong> music.<br />
Frank was himself a most accomplished pianist, winning many prizes in the Royal Irish Academy <strong>of</strong> Music and at Feis Ceoil,<br />
including the coveted Hamilton Harty Cup <strong>for</strong> Piano Concerto. His successes also included the Trimble Cup <strong>for</strong> two pianos<br />
where his partner was Ann Clancy, later to become his wife.<br />
However it is as a music educator that he has undoubtedly made his mark. Frank became Principal <strong>of</strong> the then College <strong>of</strong><br />
Music in 1973, and spent the remainder <strong>of</strong> his career actively involved, indeed one could say on occasions, controversially<br />
involved, in the advancement <strong>of</strong> music education, not just in <strong>Dublin</strong>, but right across the world. As Principal <strong>of</strong> the College<br />
he pioneered the development <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionalism amongst per<strong>for</strong>ming and teaching musicians, leading to the historic<br />
tripartite music education degree in collaboration with Trinity College <strong>Dublin</strong> and the Royal Irish Academy <strong>of</strong> Music<br />
(1987). This was followed by an equally important development: the recognition by the University <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dublin</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
per<strong>for</strong>mance as a degree-earning specialist study, resulting in the awarding <strong>of</strong> the BMus (Per<strong>for</strong>mance) degree to students<br />
completing the then <strong>DIT</strong> diploma course.<br />
When the depressing Deaf Ears Report on music education in Irish Schools was published by the Arts Council in 1985,<br />
Frank felt motivated to make the complementary response which would actually investigate the problems uncovered. He<br />
entered TCD to study education theory from first principles with the objective <strong>of</strong> applying this to the seemingly muchmisunderstood<br />
and neglected area <strong>of</strong> music education. This was a long project which gradually developed into the three<br />
Music Education National Debate (MEND) conferences, with the core international event in 1995 and concluded in 1996<br />
with the founding <strong>of</strong> the Music Education National Forum. The MEND Initiative was monitored by the Music Education<br />
National Conference <strong>of</strong> the USA and by the International Society <strong>for</strong> Music Education, so it attracted worldwide attention.<br />
The initiative was sponsored by the <strong>DIT</strong>. The development <strong>of</strong> contextual theory at the core <strong>of</strong> the MEND project has<br />
earned the admiration <strong>of</strong> music educationalists, particularly in the United States. Frank’s research <strong>for</strong> the MEND project<br />
ultimately led to his completing a PhD at the University <strong>of</strong> Pretoria.
Frank, however, was also renowned <strong>for</strong> his skills as a teacher. Despite the onerous duties <strong>of</strong> a College Principal, Frank always<br />
managed to find time <strong>for</strong> teaching. Indeed his many students have had huge success, both in Ireland and abroad: 200 first<br />
prizes in Feis Ceoil across both junior and senior categories and his student Peter Mack was the only person ever to win all<br />
10 senior awards. On the international scene, Frank’s students have won awards at important competitions in the UK, Italy<br />
and the US. As a result <strong>of</strong> his reputation as an outstanding teacher, Frank has lectured and given master-classes in more that<br />
30 universities worldwide.<br />
Since his retirement from <strong>DIT</strong>, Frank has concentrated his teaching activities in the US and in South Africa. He is a<br />
permanent faculty member at the New Orleans International Piano <strong>Institute</strong> which is held every year, and is visiting pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
at the Conservatory <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> the Northwest at Potchefstroom in South Africa. Frank’s services as an adjudicator<br />
are also much in demand and he has served on competition juries in Hong Kong, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia,<br />
Taiwan, The UK and The United States.<br />
His contributions to music have been honoured by others: he was elected <strong>for</strong> 20 continuous years as Chairman <strong>of</strong> Feis Ceoil,<br />
has been President <strong>of</strong> the 26-nation European Piano Teachers’ Association and has been awarded the honorary degree DMus<br />
by the University <strong>of</strong> Potchefstroom <strong>for</strong> his services to music education.<br />
In addition to his commitment to the world <strong>of</strong> music, Frank also played a full role as a member <strong>of</strong> the directorate <strong>of</strong> the newly<br />
<strong>for</strong>med <strong>Dublin</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> Technology, including a period towards the end <strong>of</strong> his career, as the director <strong>of</strong> cultural affairs in<br />
<strong>DIT</strong>.<br />
In summary, the contributions <strong>of</strong> Frank Heneghan to Music Education, and to <strong>DIT</strong> are <strong>of</strong> the highest order. The <strong>Dublin</strong><br />
<strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> Technology honours his distinguished contributions with the award <strong>of</strong> an Honorary Fellowship.<br />
President, members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Institute</strong>, I present to you Frank Heneghan.