Fantastic stuff! Newbridge singing group crowned world champions in California this morning

Stage Academy Newbridge, representing Team Ireland, were crowned Senior Vocal Group World Championships at the 20th Annual World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in LA in the early hours of this morning.

They took to the stage at Long Beach California at 5am Irish time, and performed a celtic Irish song Dulaman in front of a live audience, American TV, and a panel of judges whom included world renowned casting director Harriett Greenspan, two time Grammy winning producer Jeff Weber, Emmy award winning choreographer Anita Mann and Keith Nesbitt, senior agent at the Agency of Performing Arts, who represented such artists as Whitney Heuston and Culture Club.

The final was also live streamed on their website www.wcopa.com, and needless to say there wasn't a wink of sleep from the members of Stage Academy Newbridge who all stayed up to watch their stars perform. Also in the final representing Ireland were Funky Feet Stage School from Cavan who did their country extremely proud in the Senior Dance Group category.

The good news doesn't end there however, as Glen McLoughlin from Stage Academy Newbridge, who performed three solo drama pieces at the World Championships, has been shortlisted for a scholarship with the New York Film Academy. Katie Conlan, who was part of the winning singing group, has also been shortlisted to meet with two different casting directors.

The directors of Stage Academy, Paula Conlan and Brenda Malone Gilroy are so proud of their students, and will be organising a huge homecoming for the World Champions next week, more details to follow.