Sir Paul McCartney tells LIPA graduates 'go out there and be wonderful

Sir Paul McCartney told students at the performing arts college he co-founded to “go out there and be wonderful” as he attended its annual graduation ceremony. The ex-Beatle spoke of his determination to save his old school building with Mark Featherstone-Witty and his pride at seeing it become a base for the successful Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). And he joked students should ignore what they had learned from tutors and said his advice was to “be yourself.” LIPA, which opened in 1995, is housed in Sir Paul and George Harrison’s old grammar school, the Liverpool Institute for Boys. Around 280 students from 26 countries, including Israel, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland and the USA, graduated at the ceremony at the BT Convention Centre. Meanwhile nine leading figures from the entertainment industry – including legendary lyricist Don Black, Island Records President Darcus Beece, actor Sam West and Grammy Award-winning music producer Giles Martin – were made Companions of LIPA, an accolade given for outstanding achievement and practical contribution to students’ learning.

The other 2014 Companions were theatre director Adrian Jackson, Executive Director of the National Theatre Nick Starr, theatre designer Colin Richmond, lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe and professional dancer Briony Albert. Meanwhile radio presenter Janice Long and songwriter Suzahn Fiering were named Honoured Friends of LIPA.

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Source: Liverpool Echo