SongLink Prizes Presented at LIPA Graduation

SONGLINK PRIZES PRESENTED AT LIPA GRADUATION

David Stark, Paul McCartney, Mike McCartney, Spencer Leigh

The new Companions of LIPA line up with Sir Paul

David Stark with Billy Ocean

David Stark, Rowena Morgan (BASCA), producer Steve Levine and Spencer Leigh

Spencer Leigh, David Stark and Gayna Perry

David Stark presented SongLink Prizes to two students of LIPA at the annual Graduation Dy ceremony in Liverpool on Friday July 29th, attended by Paul McCartney who handed out certificates to over 300 graduates of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. This year's SongLink Prize winners were Lewis Fieldhouse and Evelyn Burke, who both received cheques and free subscriptions to SongLink as part of their prize package.

Also attending the event, held at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall, was the UK's top-selling black artist Billy Ocean who was made a Companion of LIPA, as was Caroline Elleray of Universal Music Publishing, along with others in the world of music, dance and theatre. Renowned Liverpool broadcaster and author Spencer Leigh was made an Honoured Friend of LIPA, with the ceremony hosted as ever by LIPA Principal Mark Featherstone-Witty. Lead Patron Sir Paul McCartney gave his annual speech reminiscing about his school days at the old Liverpool Institute, and how it was eventually purchased by 1990 to be transformed into LIPA.

David Stark has been presenting the SongLink Prizes for over five years, after being made a Companion of LIPA himself in 2006. In the same year, one of the SongLink winners was versatile singer/songwriter Juan Zelada, who has recently achieved national airplay for his recent single "Breakfast In Spitalfields", which was also made BBC Radio 2's Record of The Week.

LIPA opened in 1996 to forge a new approach to performing arts training. It was co-founded by McCartney and Featherstone-Witty, and now has a reputation for being one of the UK's leading higher education institutions. LIPA provides education and training in performing arts, theatre and performance design and technology and management disciplines in a hands-on, collaborative environment. LIPA offers degree courses in Acting, Community Drama, Dance, Music Theatre and Entertainment Management, Music, Sound Technology, Theatre and Performance Design and Theatre and Performance Technology.

LIPA also runs full-time one year Foundation Certificates in Performing Arts (Acting); Performing Arts (Dance); Performing Arts (Singing); and Popular Music and Sound Technology. Most recent figures have shown that over the most recent four year period, 93% of LIPA's graduates are in work three years after leaving, while 87% work in the performing arts. For more information please see the website.

Links: