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Gavin Gribben

BA (Hons) in Music

Gavin
‘The facilities at DkIT completely blew me away—recording studios, rehearsal spaces, and equipment that felt like something straight out of a dream for any aspiring musician.’

In some circles Gavin Gribben is already a household name.  The recent DkIT BA Music graduate has performed on stage with Daniel O’Donnell on TG4’s Opry le Daniel and has played to packed houses all over Ireland.

 Gavin grew up in Mayobridge, Co Down, a small village in the heart of the Mourne mountains.  When the talented musician was doing his A levels he had a long list of potential music courses from as far away as the University of Limerick to the University of Ulster, in Derry,

‘To be honest, DkIT wasn’t even on my radar at first! I only discovered the BA (Hons) in Music by sheer chance. The Open Day itself sealed the deal. The facilities at DkIT completely blew me away—recording studios, rehearsal spaces, and equipment that felt like something straight out of a dream for any aspiring musician.’

 DkIT’s location also allowed Gavin to still gig while studying, which he admits was intense at times,

Imagine writing essays and working on assignments in the back of a van between gigs. That was my reality. Thankfully, the lecturers were fantastic, they made resources accessible and were always there to guide me. I became a master of multitasking.’

Although Gavin had been performing from a young age, winning All-Ireland medals in Scór ná nÓg and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, he wanted his time at college to expose him to newness,

'When I first started the course, I was eager to explore all aspects of music, from theory and composition to performance, digital collaboration, music production, and entrepreneurship. However, what I initially expected to learn turned out to be just a fraction of the broad and enriching experience the course offered.’

Gavin is now part of the DkIT alumni having received his parchment in November 2024, he says being a graduate is

‘Bittersweet, towards the end of my time at DkIT, I was nervous about what life would look like post-graduation. But once I finished, everything just clicked. I could pour all my energy into my career, performing, writing, recording and things picked up even faster than I expected.’

The young musician could have made a living gigging after his A Levels but says,

’My degree has given me confidence. I feel prepared for whatever the industry throws my way because I’ve got a solid foundation. Plus, the support network of lecturers and fellow grads is still there, which is a huge bonus.’

The young star confesses his ambitions and dreams are big, delighted he did tick one of this bucket list last year, performing with Daniel O Donnell.

‘Next on the bucket list is to bring my music to the USA and Europe. The idea of performing in iconic venues is something I forever dream about.’

Find Out More About Music at DklT

 

‘The facilities at DkIT completely blew me away—recording studios, rehearsal spaces, and equipment that felt like something straight out of a dream for any aspiring musician.’