SONGLINK PRIZES AWARDED AT LIPA

David Stark with Steve Salvari, Georgina Kakoudaki, Paul McCartney and Steve Levine Jessica Pierpoint and David Stark Mavi Degener and David Stark The new LIPA Companions with Mark Featherstone-Witty (second left), Paul McCartney and Sean McNamara Paul McCartney, Tom Robinson and Rowan Atkinson

London, August 2022: SongLink publisher David Stark presented the SongLink Prizes to six songwriter students at LIPA Graduation Day held in Liverpool on July 25th and 26th. The two-day event was the first since 2019 due to the pandemic and covered the past three academic years - 2020, 2021 and 2022. Lead PatronSir Paul McCartney attended both days, while LIPA Founder and CEO Mark Featherstone-Witty O.B.E.hosted his final Graduation after twenty-eight years on July 25th before stepping down. The second ceremony on July 26th was hosted by new CEO and Principal Sean McNamara who was previously head of Guildford School of Acting (GSA).

David Stark commented, "The songwriting standard at LIPA is always extremely high so it's often hard to choose two songs for each year over many others submitted by the talented final-year students. However, the cream always rises to the top after repeated listening, so I'm delighted for all the winners who received prize money as well as free subscriptions to SongLink." The winners for each academic year are as follows:

2020 - Best Song Musically & Lyrically:
Eli Smart for "Cruella Deville"

2020 - Best Contemporary Song:
Theo Bognar for "Never Let You Go"

2021 - Best Song Musically & Lyrically:
Jessica Lee for "Right At Home"

2021 - Best Contemporary Song:
Jessica Pierpoint for "Control"

2022 - Best Song Musically & Lyrically:
Simen Schjølberg for "Runaway"

2022 Best Contemporary Song:
Mavi Degener for "Diamonds"

In addition, LIPA Companionships were awarded to record producer Paul Epworth (Adele, Arlo Parks, Paul McCartney etc); film and television producer Jonathan Clyde; choreographer Francesca Jaynes; theatre producer Katie Vine; costume and set designer Leslie Travers; and theatre director Georgina Kakoudaki, while culture consultant Yaw Owusu was inducted as an Honorary Friend. The event was also attended by previous Companions Rowan Atkinson, Tom Robinson, Toyah Willcox and Noddy Holderamong others including record producers Tony Platt and Steve Levine who presented the Future Producer Prizes.