Rachel Dempsey
Global Harmonies is run by Rachel Dempsey, graduate in Ethnomusicology (MA) and Latin American Studies (BA).
Singing Background
Rachel has taken singing lessons in various styles from jazz to African to Indian. She has studied at Waltons New School of Music Dublin; The Instituto Popular de Musica, Cali, Colombia; with the Global Music Foundation, Italy; with South African teachers at Oval House, London and with Bengali teacher Rajeswar Bhattacharya in Dublin. Rachel is lead singer in Latin band Candela,and has sung with Nicaraguan Jayro Gonzales (National Concert Hall), Dublin-Dublin-based Latin band Manguiera (Sugar Club, Gaiety etc.), with Kieron Allen and others.
Voice and Healing Research
Rachel researched and wrote on the healing powers of the voice, for a Masters dissertation in Ethnomusicology at Queen’s University Belfast. She has attended workshops on voicework and voice healing with Jill Purce, Chloe Goodchild, James D’Angelo, Gilles Petit, Tonalis and many others.
Musical Travels and Explorations
Rachel is actively engaged with attending events, research, taking courses and singing with different communities in various places around the world.
Projects have included:
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One year’s research on Salsa and Musical Identity in Cali, Colombia. 1994
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Participation in Salsa dance competition, Cancun, Mexico. 1998
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Researching and recording a three-part radio programme ‘In Tune with Brazil’ for Near FM/Latin America Solidarity Centre, looking at music and transformation in Brazil. 2003.
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Attendance at the famous Guelagetza festival of music and dance, Oaxaca, Mexico. 2005
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Facilitation of ‘healing through the voice/canto curativo’ workshops with prisoners, community workers, young rap artists and indigenous midwives in Bolivia. 2006. Bolivian indigenous people dancing
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Singing classes for second level aboriginal students at Yirrkala biligual school, Arnhem Land, Australia. 2007.
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Attendance at the Festival au Desert, near Timbuctu, Mali. 2008. See www.festival-au-desert.org Intercultural Jam with Tuareg people near Timbuctu, Mali
Education and Facilitation
Rachel has worked for many years in facilitation of workshops on development and intercultural education. This has included four years work as education officer for the Latin America Solidarity Centre and delivering workshops for various other organisations from schools to community groups to NGOs to third level institutions.
Articles & Blogs