Graduation Rocks the Mighty Bush!

Graduation Live is always the most highly anticipated night of the year for us, and on Sun 22nd June 2008, the 1200 strong audience at the Shepherds Bush Empire were privileged with some of the best graduating performances ever. The night was a true testament to the schools’ 25 years of success.

The One Year Diploma students were first to strut their stuff, led by a foot-stomping cover of My Sharona with Dawn Moss providing sassy vocals and Lewis Jones on drums. Sporting colourful 80s inspired outfits; this band had enough energy to get the whole room pumped!

Tamara Seeley’s soaring vocals and Brian Byard’s banjo on Carrie Underwood’s ‘Last Name’ brought a slice of country pop to the Empire which was extremely well received. With Jon Harris on drums, Paul Miller on bass and guitarists John Hellewell and Top Performer award winner Lewis Fowler, this was a first class performance.

Kate Marquart rolled on through an energetic cover of ‘Proud Mary’ and Mai Khalil, Petra Micallef, Talia Harper and Elisabeth Kristiansen served up sultry sets, with stand-out performances from drummers George Nolan and Bo Morgan and Top Overall Bass Student winner Anthony Martinez.

Showing great songwriting promise, vocalists Rhea Orthmann-Dean and Melissa Jackson put their own distinctive stamp on the evening with original tunes ‘Hot Coffee’ and ‘Stressing Me Out’ respectively.

Taking it up a gear with a 90s dance medley were Sashi Graham and winner of Top Overall Student award, Robyn Sherwell from the Master Performance Course. The superb band included the Top Performer for drums Mauro Cau and James McLaren, showing that his Most Improved Guitarist award was well deserved, this was an undisputed highlight.

Next up were the BMus degree students, a multi-student award winning band fronted by Joanna Iounnou performed a lively Dr Beat cover, and then Kelly Fraser gave it her all with a fantastic Stevie Wonder medley complete with a formidable brass section. Sandy Beales brought the groove on bass, hits included ‘I Wish’, ‘Higher Ground’ and ‘Superstition’.

A hush fell over the Empire as Laura June Barnes’ Gospel Choir took to the stage, dressed in a sea of red. Laura June’s arrangement of Every Little Thing She Does is Magic was delivered with grace and soloist Sian Evans, from the Master Performance Course gave an understated performance which was spot on.

The award presentations saw One Year Diploma, Master Performance and BMus Degree students scooping substantial prizes which were generously donated by our endorsers; Peavey, Zildjian, Pearl, Marshall, Ashdown, TC Helicon, Shure, Ernie Ball Music Man and ACS. Founder and Managing Director, Francis Seriau then gave a speech where he expressed his delight at the success of the schools over 25 years and thanked all students, staff and partners for their hard work in this great achievement.

The after show party was well worth waiting for, with BMus degree graduate Ainne Skerritt on top form, performing ‘No Plan B’ a song co-written by Ainne and set to appear on Anastasia’s upcoming album.

Headliners, The James Taylor Quartet featuring Head of Bass Andrew McKinney, duly brought the funk, playing their signature versions of ‘The Theme from Starsky & Hutch’ and ‘Blow Up’. With Yvonne Yanney’s silky vocals on ‘I Feel the Earth Move’ and high-octane closer ‘Get Yourself Down to the Floor’, JTQ aptly demonstrated their jazz funk legend status.

Graduation Live 2008 was a fitting end to the year, and we hope that everyone had a fantastic night. Thank you to everyone involved and we wish our students every success in the future!

Photos of TMS Graduation at Shepherds Bush Empire June 2008

by Marcia Petterson

www.marciaphoto.co.uk

info@marciaphoto.co.uk

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