DRUMS, Administrator: Ken McDonald

SCMS co-founder, experienced performer and session player of 20 plus years, Ken is currently drummer with the Sligo based piano trio The Odd Couple and Buck Taylor's Taylor Made Band. Ken has performed with a wide spectrum of artists including: Shana Morrison, Louis Stewart, Michael Nielsen, Frances Black, Cathy Jordan, Tommy Fleming, Richie Buckley, Michael Buckley, Sandro Gibellini, Trevor Knight, Rebecca Storm, Those Nervous Animals, Felip Carbonell, Stockton 's Wing, Alan Kelly, Emmer Quinn, The Hot City Orchestra and many others. Ken has been employed as drummer/percussionist for many theatrical performances, variety shows and big band orchestras. Music education has been a priority for the past five years and Ken has been teaching drums both privately and in Celbridge contemporary school of performing arts. Ken attained a qualification with merit through the advance grade 8 examinations in professional music performance through the Rockschool programme accredited by Trinity College London. He has also been awarded an arts council bursary to attend the famed Manhattan School of Music, N Y C for a series of master classes with John Riley who is one of the worlds premier jazz drum educators. Ken has been a pivotal figure in Sligo Jazz Project's past two summer schools and is also a key member of Sligo Jazz Project's “Live Music in the Classroom” team in the Sligo Music Education Partnership.