Graduation Day 2023: Guildhall School names new Fellows and Honorary Fellows

Congratulations to the Class of 2023, who were presented with their degrees and prizes at Guildhall School’s annual Graduation ceremony in the City of London’s Guildhall on Friday 3 November. The School also awarded Fellowships to a number of honorands, over two graduation ceremonies attended by graduands, honorands, prize-winners, guests and staff.

This year, those made Fellows of the School were:

Fellows

• Geoff Harniess (Head of Centre for Young Musicians London between 2013 and 2023)
• Alastair Putt Posthumous (Master of Composition (Guildhall Artist) 2010)
• Ashley Zhangazha (Acting 2010)

Honorary Fellows

• Gillian Laidlaw (Long-term benefactor of Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Trustee of the Guildhall School Trust since 2020)
• Hugh Vanstone (Lighting designer and supporter of The Vanstone Scholarship for Production Arts at Guildhall School)
• Roger Wilson (Co-founder and Director of Operations of Black Lives in Music, an initiative dedicated to addressing better representation in music)

Roger Wilson gave an inspiring acceptance speech on behalf of the honorands.

The School’s special prizes were also awarded over the course of the two ceremonies including; Gold Medal (Music) Alexandra Pouta, Sheriffs’ Prize Camille Daya Lucie Said, Gold Medal (Acting) Abdul Rahman Tariro Sessay, Gold Medal (Production Arts) Thomas Jack Licence, Lord Mayor’s Prize Alexander William James Harris, Lady Mayoress’s Prize Ebenezer Gyau, Sheriffs’ Prize Roslyn Savannah Chase, Principal’s Prize Rylee Erin McDaniel, Chairman’s Prize Luna Ingrid Louise De Mol and Lutine Prize Thomas Percy Young.

See how the day unfolded with photos and videos across the School’s Instagram.

Photos by Clive Totman.