Artists selected for NAVIGATOR Residencies 2025

IMC’s Navigator Jazz Residency programme was established in 2021. Since then 23 musicians have enjoyed bespoke residencies through venue partners Ballina Arts Centre, The Source Arts Centre Thurles, An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny, Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge and Courthouse Arts Tinahely and Garter Lane, Waterford.

NAVIGATOR offers jazz and improvising musicians professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.

Cork trombonist/composer/arranger, Paul Dunlea will commence his Navigator residency this June at An Grianan, Letterkenny, Donegal. Paul is at home in a variety of musical styles, but concentrates primarily on jazz and improvisation. As one of Ireland's most in demand musicians, he has performed, toured and recorded with the likes of Michael Bublé, Cassandra Wilson, Frankie Valli, Liam O'Maonlaoi, Mick Flannery, RTE Concert Orchestra, The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, The New Irish Jazz Orchestra and many more. He is a graduate of the CIT Cork School of music holding both a bachelor's degree in trombone performance and a masters degree in composition.

Dublin bassist Sean Maynard Smith will commence his Navigator residency this June at the Ballina Arts Centre, Co. Mayo. Sean is a professional bass player with a diverse range of musical experiences. Since earning a BA from Newpark School of Music in 2004, he has been working in various musical outfits in Ireland and the UK. He currently plays with Dan Walsh's 'Fixity', the Aonghus McEvoy trio and the Ben Prevo Three. He also enjoys a 6 year residency with 'Pizza Jazz' who play Dublin every Wednesday at Lucky’s on Meath st.

Cathal Roche will commence his Navigator residency this June at The Source Arts Centre, Co. Tipperary. Cathal is a saxophonist and composer whose work transcends traditional boundaries, crafting immersive sound worlds where the spatial dance of speaking and musical voices converge. In his compositions, forgotten soundscapes find refuge, embraced by the collective listening in a visual shelter. His work explores the resonance of stability and instability within intimate pauses, celebrating a paradoxical and fragile Oneness that invites listeners into a profound auditory experience. His art resonates with a deep exploration of sound, space, and human connection.

Patrick Stefan will commence his Navigator residency this August at The Riverbank Arts Centre, Co. Kildare. 2024 was a breakout year for Patrick, signing with Mahogany Songs after performing at Ireland Music Week, Your Roots are Showing, Whelan’s ‘Ones to Watch’ showcases, and selected as Musician in Residence at St. John’s, Listowel. Son to Dutch songwriter Jack Groenland, Patrick followed his father’s footsteps after an array of sideman collaborations as an instrumentalist with artists like Niwel Tsumbu (Rhiannon Giddens), Martin Hayes (with the award-winning Ensemble Ériu) & 2017 Eurovision winner Luisa Sobral. Patrick has supported Niamh Regan, Vieux Farka Toure, Kean Kavanagh, Shiv & more, is an Irish Arts Council Next Generation awardee, and winner of the inaugural Night & Day festival song competition with the song Head Voices.

Emily O’Rourke will commence her Navigator residency this August at Garter Lane Arts Centre, Co. Waterford. Emily O’Rourke is a guitarist and composer based in Co. Kildare. She regularly performs with ReRoute, a jazz guitar and vocal duo with Rufina Tishina, whose debut EP “Can You Speak To Me?” was released in 2024. She is also part of the trio River Daughter, a sax, voice and guitar improvising group. Emily graduated from DCU’s BA Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance in 2022, where she developed her love for improvising with music and sound. She honed her skills as a guitarist and composer, focusing on using music as a moment for reflection and meditation. Emily is currently training as a music therapist through the University of Limerick’s MA in Music Therapy. She is passionate about sharing music's intrinsically motivating and powerful nature with others.

Kasia Eliasz will commence her Navigator residency this November at The Courthouse Arts Centre, Co. Wicklow. Kasia is an award-winning vocalist, artist, and inclusive music practitioner whose work spans sound healing, live performance, and community engagement. With a background in cultural studies, psychotherapy, and art therapy, she brings a deeply reflective and holistic approach to music-making - one that values emotional connection, sensory awareness, and the transformative power of sound. Kasia’s musical practice is rooted in voice and improvisation, often blending acoustic textures with layered harmonies, extended vocal techniques, and live instrumentation. She creates and performs work that is both intimate and expansive, shaped by a strong commitment to inclusion and accessibility. Whether in a concert hall, a classroom, or a care setting, her focus remains the same: to use music as a tool for presence, connection, and expression.

The NAVIGATOR residency programme is part of IMC's commitment to further develop the national scene for jazz and improvised music, improve artist touring mobility, develop audiences nationwide, and develop creative opportunities and fruitful new relationships for musicians.

The NAVIGATOR Residency 2026 Expression of Interest Call-Out will open in late 2025.