Kent Nagano honoured by McGill and Université de Montréal

Acclaimed conductor to receive honorary doctorates from both universities

McGill University and Université de Montréal are proud to announce that they will each be presenting an honorary doctorate to Maestro Kent Nagano, Music Director-designate of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, in 2005-2006.

Maestro Nagano will receive his degree from McGill University at a special fall convocation ceremony to be held at Pollack Hall on Thursday, October 27, at 10:30 am. The Université de Montréal will award Mr. Nagano's honorary degree at a special ceremony at Salle Claude-Champagne on April 19, 2006, at 4:30 pm.

"Kent Nagano is a world-renowned musician, and McGill is delighted to welcome him officially to Montreal and to bestow this honorary degree upon him," says Don McLean, Dean of the Faculty of Music at McGill University. "This happy event also coincides with the launch of our new state-of-the-art music building. Maestro Nagano's personal commitment to contemporary music, recorded sound and music technology is consonant with the core mission of music at McGill, and we look forward to many opportunities for collaboration with him and our OSM colleagues."

"In presenting Maestro Nagano with an honorary doctorate, the Université de Montréal is paying tribute to a great musician who is preparing to play a leading role on Montreal's music scene," adds Réjean Poirier, Dean of the Faculty of Music. "The university wants to acknowledge Mr. Nagano's outstanding achievements, which not only encourage musicians to strive for excellence but also spark public interest in classical music. Mr. Nagano joins the ranks of other major figures who have received an honorary doctorate of music from the Université de Montréal, including Charles Dutoit, Wilfrid Pelletier, José van Dam and Pierre Boulez."

About Kent Nagano

Kent Nagano has established a reputation as a gifted interpreter of both the operatic and symphonic repertoire. A popular guest conductor with many of the world's leading orchestras, Nagano is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Deutsches Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin and Principal Conductor of the Los Angeles Opera (a position he holds until 2006). In 2006 he will take over from Zubin Mehta as Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera, and also become Music Director of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, for whom he will serve as Music Advisor for this season and next. He also maintains his long association with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra in California, where he has held the position of Music Director since 1978.

About McGill University

McGill University is Canada's leading research-intensive university and has earned an international reputation for scholarly achievement and scientific discovery. Founded in 1821, McGill has 21 faculties and professional schools, which offer more than 300 programs from the undergraduate to the doctoral level. McGill attracts renowned professors and researchers from around the world and top students from more than 150 countries, creating one of the most dynamic and diverse education environments in North America. There are approximately 23,000 undergraduate students and 7,000 graduate students. It is one of two Canadian members of the American Association of Universities. McGill's two campuses are located in Montreal, Canada.

About Université de Montréal

Founded in 1878, the Université de Montréal today has 13 faculties and, together with its two affiliated schools, HEC Montréal and École Polytechnique, constitutes the largest centre of higher education and research in Quebec, the second largest in Canada, and one of the major centres in North America. It brings together 2,400 professors and researchers, accommodates nearly 55,000 students, offers some 650 programs at all academic levels, and awards about 3,000 master's and doctorate diplomas each year.