Paul praised the spirit and family atmosphere of the performing arts college he co-founded.
Speaking at LIPA’s graduation ceremony, the ex-Beatle said: “What I
find really nice is that you come from your own family to here, and
this becomes another kind of family – your LIPA family.
“Then as you progress into the professional world, if you’re very
lucky and you cherish that idea, you get your professional family.”
Around 260 students from the UK and more than 15 countries
including India, Mexico, Venezuela and South Africa, graduated at the
ceremony at the Philharmonic Hall yesterday.
Meanwhile six leading figures from the entertainment industry –
including DJ and producer Mark Ronson and veteran US record label boss
Seymour Stein – were made Companions of LIPA, an accolade given for
outstanding achievement and practical contribution to students’
learning.
The other 2013 Companions were theatre design consultant Andy
Hayles, improv master and director Keith Johnstone, dancer and
Olivier award-winning choreographer Stephen Mears and industry
magazine editorial director Zenon Schoepe, while Rowena Morgan was
named an Honoured Friend.
Mark Ronson, whose Southport-born, New York-based mum was in the
hall, urged the students to persevere, revealing it has taken him 10
years to break into the big time.
He said: “What kept me doing this wasn’t so much a maniacal idea to
be massively famous, but more the fact that I loved doing what I did
so much I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”
Seymour Stein’s signings over the years include Madonna, Talking
Heads, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, The Cure, Madness, Erasure, The
Ramones and Liverpool’s own Echo and the Bunnymen.
Receiving his Companionship, he said: “It’s a great honour to be
here. I spent my life in music and I know how much the UK and the
world owes to Liverpool.”
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