The Journal of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Shannon McNamee as Assistant Editor. She succeeds Anna Murray who is taking up a Japanese government MEXT Scholarship to study noh theatre at the Tokyo University of the Arts and create new music theatre works.

Shannon McNamee graduated with a BA with Irish Studies and an MA in Arts Policy and Practice from NUI Galway. As well as being a music writer for The Journal of Music, The Thin Air and State magazine, she has been Event Coordinator with the Vantastival festival since 2015. For the past two and a half years, McNamee has worked in the technology sector in Galway as a User Experience Specialist with the software company Ex Ordo. She has also managed several technology-based talks around Galway and as part of Culture Night.

Commenting on the announcement, Toner Quinn, Editor of The Journal of Music, said:

Anna Murray has been an outstanding Assistant Editor of The Journal of Music for the past two years. In that period, the readership of the website has grown by 64% from 103k to 168k. Anna’s musical knowledge, can-do attitude, and, not least, her ability to juggle several projects at any one time, has played a huge part in the Journal’s growth. She has also contributed many important articles and news stories, providing key insights on developments in music over the past two years. She will be greatly missed and I wish her every success as she takes up a wonderful scholarship opportunity in Tokyo.

I am also delighted to welcome Shannon McNamee. Shannon came to the Journal via our Galway City Council Music Writer Mentoring Scheme in 2017 and quickly showed her writing ability and musical knowledge. She brings a wealth of musical and project management expertise and I look forward to working with her and further expanding our coverage of music in Ireland and beyond.

Commenting on her appointment, McNamee said:

As a reader of, and, more recently, a contributor to The Journal of Music, I am delighted to take on the role of Assistant Editor for the publication. Having taken part in the Galway City Council Music Writer Mentoring Scheme, I am particularly looking forward to getting involved with this year’s scheme and to help create thoughtful and unique musical content.

Shannon McNamee will take up her new role on 1 April.