MSM Commencement Ceremony 2019
FRI MAY 10 | 12:00 PM | The Riverside Church
Met Opera General Manager Peter Gelb, conductor Jane Glover, composer Adolphus Hailstork, and jazz legend Barry Harris will receive the Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts degree from MSM during the School’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony this Friday.
The Ceremony represents the final event of many in MSM’s season-long Centennial celebrations, a 100th anniversary that has seen the reopening of MSM’s fully renovated principal performance space Neidorff-Karpati Hall and, on April 17, a Gala performance at Carnegie Hall that was hosted by Alec Baldwin (HonDMA ’12), conducted by Leonard Slatkin (HonDMA ’13, MSM Trustee), and featured 325 performers drawn from the distinguished ranks of MSM’s extended family of artists.
This year’s Honorary Doctorates will be presented by MSM President James Gandre and Executive Vice President and Provost Joyce Griggs. The event will also include a variety of musical performances from current and graduating MSM students, a Commencement address given by Mr. Gelb, and the presentation of diplomas to the Class of 2019.

From left: Peter Gelb, Adolphus Hailstork (BM ’65, MM ’66), Jane Glover, Barry Harris
About the 2019 Honorary Doctorate Recipients:
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Peter Gelb
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Adolphus Hailstork (BM ’65, MM ’66)
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Jane Glover
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Barry Harris
The President’s Medal for Distinguished Service
Inaugurated in 1998, the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service is the highest honor bestowed upon members of the Manhattan School of Music Community by the President of the School. It is given in recognition of extraordinary commitment to the School in two or more of the following areas:
- Longevity of teaching and service at the School
- Extraordinary pedagogical, artistic, or administrative influence in the community
- Distinguished scholarship, research, and creativity as demonstrated in performance, composition, publication, or outreach
- Distinguished service to the institution as demonstrated by humanistic activities outside of the teaching studio, classroom, and office
About the 2019 President's Medal Recipients:
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John K. Blanchard (MM ’89)
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Laurie Carney
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John Forconi (BM ’77, MM ’79)