Joseph Murray

Name: Joseph Murray
Exam taken: Arts Award Gold
Category nominated under: Achievement – outstanding or high achievement in their qualification results
Nominated by: Shara Parry, Adviser

Joseph has quite literally been "Mr Arts Award" throughout his time at school. He started his journey in Year 7 achieving his Bronze Arts Award. (Year 8 was the only year that he wasn't directly involved.) He took Silver Arts Award in Year 9 and then through Years 10 and 11, he volunteered to help Bronze Arts Award pupils as part of his Duke of Edinburgh awards. In Year 12 he started Gold Arts Award and, now he is in Year 13 and completing his whole school journey, he has also completed his Arts Award arc!

At every stage, Joseph has gone above and beyond. Taking Silver during COVID lockdown periods, he switched seamlessly into online activities and events, using his leadership project to make sure there was something to engage other pupils stuck at home. As a DofE volunteer, he has been an exceptional support to the school's Arts Award Advisers, collaborative, capable and proactive but never overstepping teacher/student boundaries.

Joseph's personal qualities came to the fore as he completed his Gold Arts Award portfolio. He is a persistent student but engagingly personable - those qualities allowed him to set up fantastic interviews with industry professionals, from the renowned organist, Paul Carr, to Stephen Whitson, director of Hamilton West End, and the UK and Ireland tour!

Whilst much of Joseph's Arts Award work was completed in Year 12, he has spent Year 13 exceeding expectations. This has included taking on the editorship of the school's in-house magazine for Arts Award students, Gold Standard. His editorial in this year's publication felt like a fitting end to his Arts Award story. His final edition can be read here.

Joseph has embraced everything that Arts Award has to offer and deserves every success!