Trinity Orchestra Wins Society of the Year Award

Posted on: 13 March 2012

The Trinity Orchestra took the top prize of Best Overall Society at the annual Central Societies Committee (CSC) Society of the Year Awards which took place recently in Trinity College Dublin.  The Trinity Orchestra, which is Ireland’s only student-run orchestra, also won the Best Online Presence award and the Best Poster award for their Michaelmas Term concert poster.

The Trinity Orchestra brings together some of the most talented young musicians in Ireland, all of whom are currently students or staff at Trinity College Dublin.  The aim of the Trinity Orchestra is to provide musicians within College with a platform for performing with a large orchestra.  It has increased from 50 to 90 players during the last academic year.  The players are from various disciplines within the College but are brought together by their love and aptitude for music. The orchestra displays a high standard of musicianship and has always been very ambitious in its musical undertakings which are highlighted by the recent performances at music festivals such as the Electric Picnic, Forbidden Fruit and the 10 Days in Dublin Festival. 

Members of the Trinity Orchestra celebrate winning the Best Overall Society award.

Throughout the course of this academic year the Trinity Orchestra has also played two packed out performances during Freshers’ Week along with a free performance in the Parlour Bar during Fourth Week, an initiative aimed at enhancing the ‘Trinity Experience’.  In October the orchestra played the hits of indie rock band Arcade Fire to a sell out crowd, and more recently performed Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album to a capacity crowd in the Examination Hall.  The culmination of the year however will see the orchestra feature as one of the highlights of this year’s Trinity Ball!

The CSC awards students who have put great effort into fulfilling the aims of their societies, providing a service to their members while adding significantly to the Trinity experience.  The CSC is the College body that regulates student societies, granting recognition and funding as well as overseeing activity. Formally established in 1969, the CSC is now responsible for 110 societies covering diverse interests.  A number of the winning societies will attend the BICS National Society Awards on the 11th April where they will represent Trinity at a national level.

Other Society of the Year award winners include:

  • Best Large Society – The Philosophical Society
  • Best Medium Society – DU Amnesty
  • Best Small Society – Classical Society
  • Best New/Improved Society – Horse Racing Society
  • Best Event – Trinity Arts Festival
  • Best Individual – Jack Cantillon, Horse Racing Society and Robert Kearns, Trinity Orchestra 
  • Best Fresher – Donal McKeating, Players
  • Best Poster – Trinity Orchestra for Michaelmas Term Concert
  • Best Online Presence – Trinity Orchestra and The Historical Society
  • Best Publication – The Player by DU Players