Success for UCD Musical Society at the AIMS
The UCD Musical Society see huge success at The Association of Irish Musical Societies Awards
The Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) provides a voice to all aspects of Irish musical theatre. The organization provides an adjudication and awards scheme for all Irish musical theatre societies, including the UCD Musical Society.
This year, the society was lucky enough to be nominated in five categories in the Sullivan section for two productions that the society displayed this year, the dramatic production Parade and the upbeat, hip-hop musical In the Heights. For the musical Parade, Derry Mae Keeling, who portrayed the strong and determined character Lucille Frank, was nominated for Best Actress and Colin Gilligan, who played the charismatic yet scheming attorney Hugh Dorsey, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. For the production of In the Heights, Katie Duffy, the amazingly talented choreographer of the show, was nominated for Best Choreography and Caoilfhionn Ní Dhúlaing, who played the sweet and troubled character of Nina, was nominated in the category of Best Female Singer. The society was also extremely proud to receive a nomination for Best Overall Show for the production of Parade.
The event lasted for a weekend from the 16th to the 18th of June, with the awards ceremony on Saturday the 17th. It was on that night that UCD Musical Society made history. The society won three awards out of the five nominations, including Best Actress (Derry Mae Keeling), Best Supporting Actor (Colin Gilligan) and Best Choreography (Katie Duffy). This was a huge achievement for the society as UCD was the only musical society to win three awards and the only society to be nominated for two different shows. Even though the society has been nominated for a few awards in past years, this is the most successful UCD has ever been at the AIMS awards. It is a major achievement for a college society to be recognized for their accompli
shments outside of the university’s grounds. Due the success of this year, the society was delighted to be informed that it has been promoted to the Gilbert Section for future adjudication. This was thanks to the number of nominations the society received over the past two sessions.
It is without question that UCD Musical Society has had a very successful year taking home three awards and being moved up to the Gilbert section. The Society look forward to the new academic year ahead and building on its accomplishments and achievements.
Guest written by Roisin Heenan
