Yannick N茅zet-S茅guin to get honorary doctorate
By McGill Reporter Staff
McGill will present Montreal-born conductor Yannick N茅zet-S茅guin with an honorary degree. The University鈥檚 highest honour will be presented to Maestro N茅zet-S茅guin on May 14, at 3 p.m., at the Maison symphonique de Montr茅al, 1600 rue Saint-Urbain.
鈥淏y conferring our highest honour on this exceptional individual, McGill is recognizing the achievements and talents that have won him international acclaim. The University is also celebrating his deep commitment to Quebec society, and the way music brings people together,鈥� says Professor Suzanne Fortier, Principal of McGill. 鈥淏alancing a strong attachment to his Montreal roots with the aspiration to shine on the international scene, he is an inspiration to everyone in the McGill community.鈥�
An important name on the Quebec cultural scene, Maestro N茅zet-S茅guin has served as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestre M茅tropolitain since 2000. In 2017-2018, he will complete his tenth and final season with the Rotterdam Philharmonic. He has been Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra since 2012. In 2020-2021, he will succeed James聽Levine as the third Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
N茅zet-S茅guin studied piano, conducting, composition and chamber music at the Conservatoire de musique du Qu茅bec in Montreal, and choral conducting at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey before going on to study with renowned conductors, most notably the Italian maestro Carlo Maria Giulini.
His honours include Musical America鈥檚 Artist of the Year (2016), Royal Philharmonic Society Award; Canada鈥檚 National Arts Centre Award, the Prix Denise-Pelletier awarded by the Quebec government, and the Medal of Honour from the National Assembly of Quebec (2015). He holds honorary doctorates from the University of Quebec in Montreal (2011), Curtis Institute in Philadelphia (2014) and Westminster Choir College of Rider University (2015). He has received the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres du Qu茅bec (2015). He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada (2012) and Officer of the Order of Qu茅bec (2015).
