Michelle Connolly
Michelle is a seasoned community musician from Ayrshire, Scotland, with a long‑standing commitment to community engagement and inclusive music‑making. She works alongside local, regional, and national charities to deliver bespoke, in‑the‑moment workshops designed to spark meaningful connection and collective joy. Since 2017, she has been actively involved in community initiatives across Ayrshire, supporting people of all ages and backgrounds through accessible, creative experiences.
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Her musical journey began at home. Growing up in a family of musicians—with a drummer for a father and uncles who were classical performers—music was woven into everyday life. This early exposure nurtured a deep love of sound, creativity, and expression, and her natural ability to play by ear set her on a distinctive path as a multi‑instrumentalist.
UK Playshop Team
Michelle is a certified Village Music Circles Drum Circle Facilitator—an internationally recognised standard of excellence in facilitation. In addition to her own facilitation work, she provides essential administrative support to the UK Playshop Team. This includes welcome, administration, graphic design, communications, and operational coordination, ensuring each programme runs smoothly from first contact to final session.
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Drum 4UR Life
Michelle is the Project Coordinator for Drum 4UR Life, supporting the ongoing development of the team and its community activities. Her dedication, organisation, and attention to detail help create an environment where participants and facilitators alike can thrive. More information about the programme can be found at www.drum4urlife.co.uk (drum4urlife.co.uk in Bing).
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Her behind‑the‑scenes support enables Dr Jane Bentley and Ray Watters to focus fully on delivering high‑quality training across the UK, confident that the organisational and logistical elements are being handled with professionalism and care.
Professional Accreditation
In 2025, Michelle was endorsed as a REMO Facilitator, recognising the quality and professionalism she brings to participatory music‑making. In December 2025, she was also accredited as a recognised Drum Circle Facilitator within the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild.
Education
In September 2026, Michelle will enter the third year of a BA (Hons) in Performance after being granted APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning). This formal recognition reflects the depth of her experience, professionalism, and extensive prior learning, acknowledged by the university as equivalent to earlier years of study.
