On Tuesday, world-renowned composer and conductor Eímear Noone was awarded an honorary doctorate by NUI Galway. The award-winning artist has created scores for 26 film and video game titles. She was conferred a Doctor of Music honoris causa at the university’s summer conferring.
The honorary conferring took place at a special graduation celebration for more than 150 former students who completed studies in 2021 and whose winter conferring was postponed, along with graduates who completed studies in 2020 and were conferred in absentia due to public health restrictions during the pandemic.
Eímear Noone is based out of Los Angeles and Dublin. Originally from Kilconnell, Co Galway, she also conducts orchestras worldwide. Eímear made history in 2020 when she became the first woman to conduct the orchestra at the 92nd Academy Awards.
She has composed extensively for film and video games. Eímear is responsible for some of the most enthralling soundscapes on World of Warcraft and other best-selling video games. Her portfolio of scores has reached more than 100 million people worldwide and has won multiple industry accolades including the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Video Game Score.
Eímear Noone said: “I am delighted to be getting this honorary Doctorate of Music and it’s particularly poignant that it’s the same year that the first students of the university’s Bachelor of Music are graduating from NUI Galway. “To be honoured in my own home county, in Galway, is so meaningful and overwhelming. If I was to offer any advice to the graduates of today it’s this - take the ‘don’t be bold’ that we are told as kids, and turn it on its head, and go out there and be bold.”
President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “On behalf of NUI Galway, I congratulate each of the graduates on their hard work and achievement in challenging times. We in NUI Galway are determined that this university will continue play its full part in developing graduates who make a profound difference in the world and for the world, and shape the future needs of our society.
“I would also like to extend my congratulations to Eímear Noone. We are delighted to be able to recognise her outstanding contribution to the world of music and gaming.”
