Joe’s Graduation Ceremony

After several postponements, a delay of more than a year from the original date and fourteen months after receiving his degree, Joe’s graduation ceremony finally took place on Monday 1st November. What a fantastic ceremony it was and what a way of bringing the curtain down on a long and eventful university journey. It was certainly worth the wait…

ACM Guildford certainly did not disappoint, with the show in full swing right from the get go! Procedures were kick started by an absolutely breathtaking performance from ACM’s very own soul workshop, lead by Brian Henry. Brian is currently one of the U.K.’s most active session keyboardists and he has over fifteen years of live music experience and touring all over the world.

Throughout the ceremony there were many meaningful speeches, wise words and applause for all of the graduates. Everybody was smiling and in good spirits as each graduate individually took to the stage for their introduction and congratulations walk. Joe’s was nothing short of special, with his family and close friends in attendance, sharing the moments with all of his colleagues and former lecturers and friends. After all the hard work, his moment had finally arrived.

Once again, ACM did not do things by the book…they celebrated in only a way they would understand! There was no other way of finishing a brilliant day than another live performance from the soul workshop, who certainly did not disappoint us with yet another excelling demonstration of how much talent there was in that one room all together during that ceremony. The music industry is a very small family, but this ceremony highlighted just how close that small family really are without a single dry eye in the building, and many wonderful reunions after such a turbulent period of uncertainty. Joe later commented…

“It feels great to finally be graduating, after so many years of hard work and dedication to achieve my dream. ACM have been fantastic and they have put on an exceptional show today. To see all of my colleagues, friends and family here is just simply the icing on the cake to what has been a very emotional day. I hope that I can stay in touch with all of these wonderful people in the future and hopefully call up on many of them for sessions work too. Looking ahead to the future, who knows what it will bring. I, however, can safely say I’m feeling great and ready for a career as a musician, this has been one of the best days of my life”.