Congratulations to the nearly 270 undergraduate and graduate students who received their degrees at Juilliard’s 114th commencement ceremony, held May 24. Newly minted Juilliard trustee Camille Zamora (MM ’02, voice, Artist Diploma ’04, opera studies), co-founder of Sing for Hope, delivered the commencement address.
This year’s festivities got underway a little earlier than usual with an afternoon of events for graduating students and their families that began in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, where President Damian Woetzel welcomed the graduates and their families and engaged in a freewheeling conversation with choreographer and dancer Alonzo King, one of the three arts world leaders to receive an honorary doctorate this year. (Read more here about King and the other degree recipients, actress Rita Moreno and composer Kaija Saariaho.) This forum preceded division-wide lunches and an afternoon of activities that let visitors sample what Juilliard is all about. The Dance Division sponsored an open Horton Technique class, longtime Drama Division faculty member Moni Yakim taught his signature movement technique class, and chamber music students played in Paul Hall. That evening, the annual commencement concert featured mostly graduating musicians playing an all-Ravel program conducted by faculty member Matthias Pintscher.
This year’s commencement prize winners are
Richard F. French Doctoral Prize Collaborative pianist Arthur Williford (dissertation: The Third Violin Sonata of Charles Ives, Revisted)
John Erskine Prize Tenor Mishael Eusebio and percussionist Tyler Cunningham
Martha Hill Prize Dancer Anca Putin
Michel and Suria Saint-Denis Prize Actor David Rosenberg
Peter Mennin Prize Soprano Jessica Niles and jazz saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins
William Schuman Prize Jazz pianist Addison Frei, guitarist Alberta Khoury, violinist Harriet Langley
Joseph W. Polisi Prize Soprano Khady Gueye, dancer Moscelyne ParkeHarrison, and actor Darryl Gene Daughtry
(Watch a video recap of commencement here and look at a slideshow of photos from commencement day.)