John Adams Awarded Honorary Degree from Yale University

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Congratulations to composer John Adams, who received an honorary degree from Yale University at the school's 312th Commencement held in New Haven yesterday. Adams' fellow honorees include Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and author Edwidge Danticat (seated in the photo with Adams). "You have pushed the boundaries of music, layering sound upon sound, playing with silence and speech and song, extending minimalism," read the citation honoring Adams. "Creating symphonies, choral works, concerti, and historical operas, your compositions have comforted and confronted, amused and amazed, challenged and transformed."

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Congratulations to composer John Adams, who received an honorary degree from Yale University at the school's 312th Commencement held in New Haven yesterday. Adams, who received an honorary doctor of music degree, was among ten esteemed honorees receiving the degrees, including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and author Edwidge Danticat (seated in the photo with Adams), FedEx founder and CEO Frederick Smith, and, in a surprise announcement, Yale's outgoing president, Richard Levin.

"You have pushed the boundaries of music, layering sound upon sound, playing with silence and speech and song, extending minimalism," read the citation honoring Adams. "Creating symphonies, choral works, concerti, and historical operas, your compositions have comforted and confronted, amused and amazed, challenged and transformed. Your poignant work, On the Transmigration of Souls, gave voice to our collective grief following 9/11. You are a gifted author as well, and we say 'Hallelujah' at this junction as Yale names you Doctor of Music."

For additional details and coverage from the event, visit news.yale.edu.

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John Adams: Yale Commencement 2013
  • Tuesday, May 21, 2013
    John Adams Awarded Honorary Degree from Yale University

    Congratulations to composer John Adams, who received an honorary degree from Yale University at the school's 312th Commencement held in New Haven yesterday. Adams, who received an honorary doctor of music degree, was among ten esteemed honorees receiving the degrees, including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and author Edwidge Danticat (seated in the photo with Adams), FedEx founder and CEO Frederick Smith, and, in a surprise announcement, Yale's outgoing president, Richard Levin.

    "You have pushed the boundaries of music, layering sound upon sound, playing with silence and speech and song, extending minimalism," read the citation honoring Adams. "Creating symphonies, choral works, concerti, and historical operas, your compositions have comforted and confronted, amused and amazed, challenged and transformed. Your poignant work, On the Transmigration of Souls, gave voice to our collective grief following 9/11. You are a gifted author as well, and we say 'Hallelujah' at this junction as Yale names you Doctor of Music."

    For additional details and coverage from the event, visit news.yale.edu.

    Journal Articles:Artist News

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