About Joy

Joy’s confidence and skill as an interpreter of tradition rests on a deep and thorough knowledge of Gaelic language and culture, from the folkloric to the scholarly.  She is enthusiastic and generous in sharing her culture across many arenas; teaching Gaelic language, singing and step-dance classes for a range of institutions from grassroots to tertiary education level.  Throughout her teaching, Joy is passionate about promoting Gaelic as a dynamic, living language and culture. Holding an honours degree from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, she is also a certified Ulpan tutor and popular private teacher who has taught Gaelic language, singing & step-dance for the following organizations:

• An Comunn Gàidhealach
• Argyll & Bute Council
• Big Big Sing
• Celtic Connections
• Clì
• Comunn Gàidhlig Ottawa
• Comunn nan Sgoiltean Àraich
• Co-roinn Ghàidhlig Latharna
• Dumfries & Galloway Council
• Edinburgh International Harp Festival
• Falkirk Council
• Fèis Mhàbu (Cape Breton, NS)
• Fèisean nan Gàidheal
• Glasgow City Council / Glasgow Life
• Glasgow University
• Manx Heritage Foundation
• North Ayrshire Council
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD)
• Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
• St. FX University (Nova Scotia)
• Strathclyde University

Joy also has substantial professional experience as a music and Gaelic choral expert. She recently organised & directed the NYCoS pilot project, Còisir nam Balach, which launched the first ever National Boys Gaelic Choir and also conducts male voice choir Còisir Ceann an Tuirc. In addition to her official duties, Joy is heavily involved with the Gaelic choral scene as both a Gaelic reader and singer and has been instrumental in supporting and promoting junior choral singing.

She is also a frequent Gaelic & Music adjudicator and has adjudicated at The Royal National Mòd, Mòd Chanada (Ottawa) and numerous provincial Mòds.  She has recently been a popular guest adjudicator at both the Inverness Music Festival and the Inverclyde Music Festival.