In this personal Testimonial, Mathuriga Thevapalan, a PhD student who completed her MA in Research with the Irish World Academy, answers questions about her experience as a student in UL.
How did you find out about UL?
By word of mouth. I study South Indian classical music under Prof. Karaikudi S. Subramanian and I have been visiting his institute Brhaddhvani in India frequently since 2016. He has been associated with the Academy for quite a few years. He suggested that I take up my postgraduate studies there and introduced me to Dr. Matthew Noone in 2018, when we both visited Brhaddhvani. Matthew told me about the programmes at the Academy and helped me get in contact with the right people.
Why did you choose UL for your studies?
I loved the open attitude towards world music and practice in general. The MA Research allowed me to pursue South Indian classical music, while providing me with the opportunity to refine my practice through academic research methodologies. This didn’t seem possible in any other institutions I was exploring at the time. The people I interacted with during the initial phase also made a great impact on me by being so welcoming and helpful. I had a sense that the Academy would be a healthy environment, conducive to the learning and growth that I was seeking.
(L-R): Kelly Boyle (lecturer at UCC and current PhD Arts Practice student at the Irish World Academy), Mel Mercier (Emeritus Professor and Chair of Performing Arts, Irish World Academy), Karaikudi S. Subramanian (Founder, Brhaddhvani and Emeritus Professor of Music, University of Madras), Mathuriga Thevapalan & Thenuga Thevapalan (current PhD Arts Practice student at the Irish World Academy)
What did you love about UL/Limerick?
A variety of things, which are actually interconnected. First and foremost, I loved my interactions with my supervisor Prof. Mel Mercier. I felt the support since our very first meeting. While supporting and guiding me very generously throughout my research, he encouraged independence and the autonomy to discover the direction I wanted to take.
Another special experience at the Academy was seeing how my training with my guru was complemented by my research pursuits. The Academy is such a vibrant space where everyone feels welcome and no one is looked at as “the other”. In fact, it was the first time I didn’t feel like a fish out of water, pursuing South Indian music in a Western country. The openness of the MA Research programme allowed me to stay rooted in authentic South Indian practices, while enhancing my practice through academic reflection. My understanding about music in general was expanded during my masters as I learned about different ways of perceiving, studying and applying music.
What advice would you share with other prospective masters students / what do you wish you had known before arriving in UL?
Maybe to seize the opportunities UL has to offer. I was hesitant to get out of my comfort zone and explore music outside my familiar practices. So, without even being aware of it, I missed out on unique opportunities, which would otherwise have been great learning experiences.
My current engagement
Over the course of my MA, I realised the wide range of opportunities and resources which scholarship provides. This inspired me to continue the pursuit of my practice through academic reflection. I am now approaching my 2nd year on the PhD Arts Practice at the Academy under the supervision of Prof. Mel Mercier and Dr. Òscar Mascareñas.
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