Offaly students recognised at Excellence Awards

Offaly students Leah Buckley and Eimear Byrne have been recognised for their outstanding talent at the 2012 Leinster School of Music and Drama (LSMD) Excellence Awards. Leah was selected as the overall winner from some 15,000 students throughout the country who took the LSMD exams in 2012 thanks to her outstanding Grade Five Musical Theatre exam results, while Eimear was nominated for her Grade Three piano exam. At the awards ceremony in Griffith College in Dublin Leah, who attends lesson with Lorraine Wynne in Tullamore, sang "Good Morning Baltimore". Eimear, who attends lesson with Sarah Condron, performed the piece "Sea Pink". Launched in 2004 to mark the school's centenary year, the LSMD Excellence Awards are open to all students who took LSMD exams throughout the year. The top 250 students go on to compete and finalists are then chosen to perform at the award concert in Griffith College. Excellence awards are given for both music and speech and drama, with winners in each category getting a trophy and a cheque for €300. Commenting on the awards Leinster School of Music and Drama manager at Griffith College Karen Casey said this year's awards showcased the very best in talent. "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 said.