Leinster School of Music & Drama hosts their annual ‘Excellence Awards’ at Griffith College Dublin

Student performing at the 2019 Excellence Awards

The Leinster School of Music and Drama (LSMD) were delighted to host their annual Excellence Awards ceremony at Griffith College Dublin.

One of Ireland’s leading examining bodies in music and drama, LSMD launched the Excellence Awards in 2004 to mark the school’s centenary year. The awards are open to the 15,000+ students across Ireland who took their music and drama exams over the last year.

Based on their exam grades, the top 320 exams are selected to compete in the Excellence Awards and finalists are chosen from this group to perform at the Excellence Awards Concert which takes place annually at Griffith College.

With renditions of songs from the hit musical 'La La Land' to 'The Pink Panther' and performances from Irish writer Sean O’Casey’s ‘The Plough and the Stars,’ it was evident from the showcase that there is no shortage of Irish talent.

Following his performance from American drama ‘Five Finger Exercise,’ LSMD were delighted to announce Orin Mitchell from Sligo as the overall winner of the Excellence Awards for Speech & Drama Performance whilst Dublin native Harrison Jio was named the overall winner for Music Performance. Having performed George Gershwin’s ‘The Man I Love’ on piano, Harrison was nominated for the awards following his Grade 8 Piano exam where he scored an impressive 92%. Both winners were awarded a coveted LSMD trophy and cheque for €300.

Commenting on the awards, Karen Casey, Head of Faculty of The Leinster School of Music & Drama at Griffith College, said; “This year’s Excellence Awards at Griffith College showcased the very best in talent across the areas of music and speech & drama.

“We are delighted to see these students and teachers recognised for their outstanding commitment to these disciplines and would like to wish them the very best of luck for the future in their chosen fields,” she concluded.

Learn more about the LSMD.