CONGRATULATIONS to our 2010 WINNERS at the World Championships Of Performing Arts Event which took place in Hollywood, Los Angeles. TEAM IRELAND yet again swept the boards at the prestigious event winning numerous scholarships, trophies, medals and awards. The WCOPA event was held in the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Contestants from over 40 countries competed in dance, drama, singing, modelling, instrumental and variety competitions. The 53 members on the Irish team hail from all around Ireland Republic and range in age from 6-32 years. Have a look at some of our Talented Kids/Teens/Adults students’ successes:
 
"Talented Inc" which is made up of Susan Ward and Philip Emmet won the top title of "Overall Vocal Group World Champions" for their rendition of the Broadway Musical duet "The Song That Goes Like This" from Spamalot the Musical. Susan and Philip were the outright winners in all of the Senior Vocal Groups and performed in the final showcase which was aired LIVE on the internet. This footage can still be viewed on the official wcopa website and will later be screened on FOX TV.
http://wcopa.tv/site2011/index.php?pid=134

In addition to the Overall Champion Award, both Susan and Philip topped their own Solo Singing and Solo Drama Competitions and won many Prizes. Susan made an enormous impression on record company "Million Dollar Management" which is based in Denmark and USA for her vocals with self accompaniment original songs. In addition to the record company wanting to work with Susan in the very near future, Susan also topped every one of her competitions for her original works and won 6 Overall Awards and 17 medals which consisted of 10 GOLD. Susan is currently in pre-production of her Demo Solo CD.

Warren Mahon, 19, also made it to the Grand Finals, that were showcased LIVE on the web, for Acting and was awarded a top Drama Prize of a $10.000 scholarship to the prestigious New York Conservatory of Drama course which is 2 years long. Aoibhinn Finnegan 24 was another recipient of the €10,000 scholarship and on returning to Ireland, Johnny Ward was thrilled to be awarded a scholarship to the NY Conservatory Professional Actors Course.  John Kelly 11, was a Grand Finalist in the Instrumental category for his traditional Irish Music playing on the tin whistle and our new agency models ie Jamie McLean 19 and Cliona Kerrigan 16 made it to the Grand Finals also. Cliona along with Kildare's Aisling Doyle, were also recipients of a 3 month scholarship to MILLENIUM SCHOOL OF DANCE in Los Angeles.

The TEAM DRAMA SCHOLARSHIP was awarded for the 2nd year running to IRELAND due to the Irish teams most impressive high standard. €500 was awarded to each member of the Irish Team for the NY Conservatory of Drama 2011 Summer Course.
 
Fair City members Niamh Quirke (Rachel Brennan) and Gary Nolan (Philip O Connor) received Industry Awards for Excellence and Bronze medals. Susie Power 6, (Eleanor Daly ) was the youngest competitor from Ireland and was awarded 16 medals (5 gold), an Industry Award, and 2 Overall Awards for the "Dance-Hip Hop" and "Song and Dance" sections between ages 5-10 years:
http://www.rte.ie/tv/faircity/2010/0714/wcopa.html

Sisters Gabrielle and Gwenola  Leleu impressed one of the LA Casting Agents so much at the GO SEE DAY, that she cast them in a top Global Web Drama /Talk Show “Kids On The Porch”.  Harry Behan + Monika Nzughem also made very favourable impressions on a Russian Talent Scout who brought a TV + Film Crew with her. She took them and their parents out for a day in a Limousine and filmed them for a Russian TV shoot in various parts of Hollywood.
Professional actor Johnny Ward was selected for a documentary at the WCOPA and filmed throughout the event at his competitions, socialising with the other Team Ireland members, and talking about his life and career as a professional Irish actor since he was a young child. Please see the following links which include the WCOPA Results for all of Team Ireland and our exceptionally Talented Students, Live Final:

http://www.wcopa.tv/site2011/index.php?pid=128#Ireland
http://www.wcopa.tv/site2011/index.php?pid=114
http://www.wcopa.tv/site2011/index.php?pid=104
http://wcopa.tv/site2011/index.php?pid=134

 
When the WCOPA 2010 Team Ireland returned to Ireland on the morning of 27th July with their medals, scholarships and awards, as soon as they arrived at Dublin airport, they were photographed for press and then whisked off for a TV Interview with Sybil Mulcahy from TV3’s Morning Show. Many of them also performed on this:
TV3 Morning Show

The Echo Newspaper (page 10)

Maureen V Ward was the National Director for the Irish team and for the 2nd year running won an award for Outstanding National Director. The Irish team also won 1st Prize for the Costume award for their Opening Ceremony Parade which featured each Irish member dressed up in costume that resembled Celtic Mythology. At this parade, the whole of Team Ireland were filmed for a Promo announcing a TV Programme “ASAP” for the Philippines.

A Celebration Party will be organised soon for the Talented Kids Students Successes in September.

6 year old starlet Holly Gregg from Clondalkin has been cast in a leading role in a feature film that is currently being shot here in Ireland and also abroad. Holly won the part of the lead Child role  "Laura", who is a 6 year old Cancer Victim in the upcoming flick "The Last Furlong" which features many well known International actors in the title roles. The role of LAURA is a 6 year old cancer victim who is in many of the hospital scenes in the film, and this role requires Holly to have her hair shaved off for it. You may ask why a 6 year old child may want to have her head shaved?...  Even for a film role?....Many children wouldnt dream of parting with their locks! ??. Click here to see photos of Holly getting her hair cut!

Well, unlike a lot of children her age, Holly has an incredible amount of knowledge about this horrific disease due to some of her family members being diagnosed with it, living with it, and other family members who have since passed on due this detestable illness. Holly has embraced the role of LAURA, and wants to put her headshave to great use. She has decided that she wants to raise as many funds as possible by asking the public to sponsor her headshave which she has decided will be in aid of Our Ladies Children’s Hospital Crumlin. Holly has also decided that she wants to donate her hair to the "Locks of Love" Foundation. 

When Holly was auditioned for the part, she was instantly a hit with the casting team. Holly has an impressive resume to date for a child of her age. She has been in many shows, was a featured performer in the Mill Theatre's "Fluffy's Xmas Factor"show last Christmas + has been a multiprizewinner at competitions.
"Holly is a multitalented child- a fantastic actress, singer, dancer and model. She is extremely focussed and determined for a child of her age and is an absolute pleasure to teach!" said Maureen, her agent and teacher at Talented Kids Performing Arts School and Agency. " Not only is Holly a trouper, but she is a down to earth little girl with an angelic glow about her. We are very proud of her achievement and think that this is an amazing and selfless gesture for a 6 year old child to do".

The date of the actual headshaving is not decided, however it will be taking place very soon as Holly starts filming the week of 24th May. In the meantime, Holly would be so grateful to any of the members of the public, who would be generous enough to support Holly's cause by donating money or sponsoring her headshave.

For anybody out there, who would like to support her cause for cancer, please feel free to donate any funds into the following bank account:

Account Name: Holly Kate Gregg
BANK: National Irish Bank, Finglas, Main Street, Finglas, Dublin 1
Sort Code 95 15 13   
Acc No.73079473

It is with great pleasure that we inform you that Susie Power age 6, who plays 'Eleanor Daly' on RTE's Fair City was awarded the "Young Achiever of the Year" 2009 award at the "Maternity and Infant Awards" which was held Thursday 12th November at a very prestigious award ceremony in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin.

Susie received the "Young Achiever of the Year" Crystal trophy award for her impressive acting for such a young age on Fair City, for her achievements at the recent World Championships Of Performing Arts (where she was awarded GOLD) and her excellent CV for the Performing Arts for a 6 year old child which includes theatre, short films and modelling.

On accepting her award, Susie was interviewed on stage and gave a tremendous Thankyou speech where she thanked all the cast and crew of Fair City, Talented Kids Performing Arts School and Agency in Clondalkin, and her family. The host on the day was RTE newsreader Sharon Ni Bheolain. The award ceremony will be aired on the City Channel TV Station over the next fortnight.

You can see Susie's impressive acting skills at the moment on FAIR CITY as her onscreen father Brendan Daly is in a dramatic court case for killing his brother in law Floyd Phelan.

For more information on the awards ceremony, please check out their website:
http://www.maternityandinfant.ie/awards/

NEW DANCE BAGS and BASEBALL CAPS available to purchase at Classes"

CONGRATULATIONS to our following OVERALL WINNERS at our 2010 Inhouse Competitions:
DJ McGRATH-OVERALL ACTOR; NICOLE MAHER-OVERALL DANCER; SIOBHAN MURPHY-OVERALL SINGER