The Juilliard School will award honorary doctorates to prominent artists Philip Glass, Joyce DiDonato, Marcus Roberts, Viola Davis and Lar Lubovitch, as well as architecht Frank Gehry and philanthropists Bruce and Suzanne F. Kovner, during its 109th Commencement Ceremony on May 23 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrated mezzo-soprano DiDonato will give Juilliard's commencement address during the ceremony in Alice Tully Hall, which will be streamed live. The public at large is invited to watch the ceremony at https://live.juilliard.edu.
Juilliard President Joseph W. Polisi will present the honorary doctorate degrees. The awards begin a ceremony in which Juilliard's 289 actors, dancers and musicians of the Class of 2014 (130 undergraduates and 159 graduates) receive diplomas and learn who among them are receiving Juilliard's graduation prizes--a closely-held surprise and an additional highlight of each commencement.
Recipients of Juilliard's Honorary Doctor of Music:
Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, who has soared to the top of the industry as both a performer and a fierce arts advocate. DiDonato received the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo for her album Diva, Divo. She also received a Gramophone Award for Artist of the Year and a place in the Gramophone Hall of Fame. DiDonato is generous with her time training future generations of singers in master classes, including two live-streamed at Juilliard.
Composer and Juilliard alumnus Philip Glass, whose repertoire includes music for opera, dance, theater, chamber ensemble, orchestra, and film. His scores (Kundun, The Hours, Notes on a Scandal) have received Academy Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award (The Truman Show).
American jazz pianist, composer and educator Marcus Roberts, who has been honored to receive many commissioning awards from Jazz at Lincoln Center, Chamber Music America, ASCAP, the North Carolina Association of Jazz Educators, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Savannah Music Festival.
Architect Frank Gehry, winner of the Pritzker Prize, AIA Gold Medal and National Medal of Arts, among numerous others. He designed some of the world's most iconic cultural buildings, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles; the New World Center in Miami; the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao and Abu Dhabi; the Pritzker Music Pavilion in Chicago; and just announced Facebook West Campus design in Menlo Park.
Recipients of Juilliard's Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts:
Actress and Juilliard alumna Viola Davis, who received Academy Award nominations for The Help (2011) and Doubt (2008), and won Tony Awards for her portrayal of Tonya in King Hedley II (2001) and for her role as Rose Maxson in the Broadway revival of August Wilson's Fences.
Choreographer and Juilliard alumnus Lar Lubovitch, who founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in New York City 45 years ago. His dances are performed by major companies throughout the world including Juilliard's Dance Division. Juilliard Dance recently performed his 1986 work, Concerto Six Twenty-Two.
Recipients of Juilliard's Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters:
Philanthropists Bruce and Suzanne F. Kovner, who, through the Kovner Foundation, support education innovation and reform and performing arts institutions. They recently donated $60 million to Juilliard, the largest one-time donation in the School's history, to create the Kovner Fellowship Program.
