Edwina van Kuyk Teams Up with St. Kevin’s Choir for New Single ‘Here to Stay’
BIMM Dublin alumna and Outreach & Applicant Experience Officer Edwina van Kuyk has released her latest single, Here to Stay, featuring a special collaboration with the choir of St. Kevin’s Community College in Clondalkin.
The collaboration came about through BIMM Dublin’s outreach programme, highlighting the power of connecting aspiring young musicians with real-world creative opportunities.
Throughout the academic year, Edwina visits secondary schools across Ireland, delivering songwriting workshops and introducing students to pathways into the music industry. During a recent visit to St. Kevin’s Community College, an unexpected opportunity emerged.
The day before the workshop, Edwina had written Here to Stay, a song she envisioned incorporating elements of gospel music and, ideally, a live choir.
“I was sure that I wanted to incorporate my love of gospel music into the track, and in an ideal world, this would include a live choir,” – says Edwina.
“My producer, Cian O’Donoghue, and I discussed the possibility, but given a few practical constraints, we thought it probably wouldn’t be feasible this time around.”
That changed after hearing the school choir perform.
“I was genuinely blown away,” she recalls. “The kind of blown away that brings tears to your eyes and gives you goosebumps. Their musical ability was evident, but what stood out just as much was their energy and their confidence.”
Inspired by their performance, Edwina saw an opportunity to bring the students into the recording process. Just a few days later, she returned to the school alongside producer Cian O’Donoghue and recording equipment to capture the choir’s contribution to the track.
“Beyond being professional, they picked up the material incredibly quickly, and their performance elevated the song far beyond what I had imagined,” she says.
While the choir is an experienced performer, having appeared at venues including the National Concert Hall, the recording session marked the first time many of the students had contributed to a professional music release. For Edwina, the experience perfectly reflects the purpose of BIMM Dublin’s outreach work.
“From my perspective, this is exactly what outreach is about – bridging the gap between education and industry and providing opportunities for students to engage in real-world music-making,” she explains.
She also praised the support shown by the school’s staff throughout the project.
“It was lovely to see how supportive and encouraging their music teacher, Saoirse, and school principal, Ciaran, were of their involvement – something that is so important in second-level education today.” Reflecting on the collaboration, Edwina says the students exceeded all expectations.
“I’m lucky in my role to meet so many talented young musicians, but the choir at St. Kevin’s really exceeded my expectations. Their standard was exceptional, and their contribution brought something very special to the song. I’m very grateful for having worked with them.”
The project serves as a powerful example of how BIMM Dublin’s outreach initiatives can create meaningful opportunities for young musicians, enabling them to gain hands-on experience while contributing to professional creative work.
Here to Stay was released on 22 May 2026 and is available to stream below.
