More than 800 student musicians will graduate as honorary doctorates go to Philip Bailey and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire; Steve Winwood; composer Howard Shore; and Brazilian artist Rosa Passos.Berklee will present honorary doctor of music degrees to Philip Bailey and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire; Steve Winwood; composer and Berklee alumnus Howard Shore; and Brazilian artist Rosa Passos with at the college's commencement on Saturday, May 10, at the Agganis Arena at Boston University. Bailey, the commencement speaker, will address more than 800 Berklee graduates and invited guests at the 7,000-seat venue.
This year's honorary doctorate recipients are being honored for their achievements in the world of music, and for their enduring contributions to American and international culture. Past recipients include Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Patti LaBelle, Steven Tyler, Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Nancy Wilson, David Bowie, Michel Camilo, Chaka Khan, Loretta Lynn, Quincy Jones, Bonnie Raitt, and Ahmet Ertegun.
Steve Winwood, a pioneer of rock who has influenced generations of musicians, will be performing a special concert of his career-spanning hits in the intimate space of the Berklee Performance Center on Thursday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m., in appreciation of receiving the honorary degree. The Berklee Performance Center is located at 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA. Tickets, on sale now at the BPC box office and ticketmaster.com, are $35, $50, and $70. Please call 617 747-2261 for more information.
On commencement eve, as is Berklee's tradition, students will pay tribute to the honorees by performing music associated with Bailey, White, Winwood, Shore, and Passos at the Agganis Arena. The commencement concert and ceremony are not open to the public.
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Shore is expected to be in attendance and, according to Berklee, will lead the school's orchestra in a selection.
