Play Percussion offers fun, intensive world drumming workshops for all age groups and abilities Ronan also works regularly with the Ulster Youth Orchestra.
Biography:
Ronan McKee, originally from Strabane in County Tyrone, studied music at the
University of Huddersfield, specialising in percussion under Chris Bradley. Upon graduating Ronan combined a successful playing and teaching career in the north of England. He is an accomplished performer, having played and recorded with many orchestras, brass bands, percussion ensembles, folk, jazz and rock
groups. Ronan was the principle timpanist with Yorkshire Building Society Brass Band during a very successful period from 1994-1999, winning many major titles including 2 European Brass Band Championships. He has also performed with Backbeat Percussion Ensemble and the Ulster Orchestra. Ronan is a dedicated and experienced percussion teacher and was employed by Kirklees Music School in Huddersfield for over ten years. He conducted and composed works for Kirklees Percussion Ensemble and directed them to three consecutive performances at the Children’s Proms Music for Youth Festival at the Royal Albert Hall and an appearance on Blue Peter. He has also worked with the BBC Philharmonic and the Ulster Orchestra developing and delivering educational projects and was the Percussion Tutor with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland from 1998 - 2009. In 2007 Ronan returned to Ireland to take up teaching posts with the WELB & SELB music services. He had become passionate about African and South American Drumming and its educational uses whilst delivering workshops in England. Ronan decided to further his World Drumming knowledge and has travelled to Senegal several times to study with the Master Drummer, Seckou Keita. To continue his commitment to music education in Ireland, Ronan developed Play Percussion in 2008 as a company specialising in educational drumming workshops.
