Assoc ProfessorTomás McAuley

Since arriving at UCD, I have taught  undergraduate courses on Music History since 1750 and Understanding Music, undergraduate and Masters-level courses on Music and Philosophy, and a Masters course on Music and the Enlightenment. I also oversaw the design of the new core undergraduate course New Ideas in Musicology.  Previously, I taught courses (at Indiana University and the University of Cambridge) on related topics and on Chamber Music Literature, Symphonic Literature, and The Beatles.

While Head of School, I led work to establish our new BA Humanities Music pathway (launched September 2025) and two new structured electives in Music Performance and Musicology (launched September 2024).

Frequent concerns in my teaching are to bring out the broader social, cultural, and ethical significance of the music being studied; to bring "popular" and "art" musics into dialogue; and to teach students the skills necessary to engage critically with a broad range of musics outside of the classroom.

I have a particular interest in issues of research skills, professional development, and wellbeing among graduate students and co-founded (with Laura Anderson) the School of Music PhD Forum.