The Irish Institute of Music & Song is hosting the 2023 International Songwriting Retreat on 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, The Corrs and One Direction. All course attendee swill 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 www.internationalsongwritingretreat.com to find out more and register your interest today. 

IMRO Scholarships
IMRO have 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 www.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.

See further details at the link below.