Bryce Dessner, Grammy Award-winning classical composer and guitarist with indie-rock group The National, receives the Samuel Beckett Medal from the College Historical Society of Trinity College Dublin (‘the Hist’). The Medal was presented to him on the evening of 6 November 2025 at Trinity College, Dublin.
The Hist, founded in 1770, is officially recognised as the oldest student society in the world. Previous members range from Bram Stoker, Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde, to Leo Varadkar, Mary Robinson and Sally Rooney. Aiming to promote discourse and debate in Ireland and globally, the Hist recognises individuals who have made outstanding contributions to public discourse. The Samuel Beckett Medal recognises the specific and unique contributions that artists, and art, make to public discourse, with past recipients including Joan Baez, Patti Smith and George R.R. Martin.
Hazel Mulkeen, the Hist, comments:
“Art plays a crucial role in shaping the public consciousness, and has always been a crucial force for social change. In recognition of his incredible contribution to music and culture, as a composer, guitarist, and creative visionary, the College Historical Society is proud to present Bryce Dessner with the Samuel Beckett Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse Through the Arts.”
Bryce Dessner is a vital and rare force in new music, having won Grammy Awards as a classical composer, with his band The National, and for his work in film music. He is regularly commissioned to write for the world’s leading ensembles and is in demand as composer in residence. He is also a high-profile presence in film music, with his work featured in films such as ‘The Revenant’, ‘The Two Popes’ and ‘Sing Sing’. Dessner is a key creative force – as guitarist, songwriter and arranger – with The National, and was named among Rolling Stone’s 250 greatest guitarists of all time. He has also co-founded several festivals, including Sounds from a Safe Harbour in Cork.
The 2025-26 season sees a number of high profile composer residences and world premieres, including the world premiere of Bryce Dessner’s Cello Concerto, Trembling Earth, performed by Anastasia Kobekina, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and Andre de Ridder on 7 November, in Dublin’s National Concert Hall. Also this season Dessner is composer-in-residence at Konzerthaus, Berlin and with Czech Philharmonic. Further world premieres of new works will take place at Carnegie Hall and Paris’ Fondation Louis Vuitton. November 2025 also sees the release of Dessner’s score for the anticipated film, ‘Train Dreams’ (Netflix).