UPDATE (May 24): Stevie Wonder had a surprise in store after opening remarks at the Peabody Conservatory's graduation ceremony at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland on Wednesday, May 22: He treated the crowd to an impromptu performance of “Sir Duke,” his rousing tribute to the legend of music such as Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and the “king of them all, Sir Duke” – the great Duke Ellington. The song topped the Hot 100 for three weeks in 1977 and received a Grammy nomination for record of the year.
Wonder also received the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Music and Dance in America at the graduation ceremony. Wonder received the medal from Fred Bronstein, dean of the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
PREVIOUS (May 2): Stevie Wonder and Misty Copeland will receive the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Music and Dance in America, the Peabody Institute's highest honor. In addition, Wonder and Copeland will give speeches at Peabody Conservatory's 2024 graduation ceremonies on Wednesday, May 22.
Copeland, the first dancer to receive the George Peabody Medal, will address the undergraduates at the morning ceremony. Wonder will speak at the afternoon ceremony for graduate students. The next day, Johns Hopkins University will award Wonder an honorary doctorate at its commencement ceremony.
Other recent Peabody winners include Herbie Hancock, Renée Fleming, Tori Amos, Leon Fleisher, Yo-Yo Ma and Jessye Norman.
Wonder is a 25-time Grammy winner. He won album of the year with three consecutive studio albums in the 1970s, a feat that has yet to be repeated. In 1999 he received the Kennedy Center Honors Award.
“Stevie Wonder and Misty Copeland have dedicated their lives to making art and uplifting others through music and dance, inspiring audiences and setting powerful examples for generations of younger performers,” said Peabody Dean Fred Bronstein .
“By any measure, Stevie Wonder was one of the most influential artists of his time, a remarkable artistic figure born out of Motown but destined to surpass what even that juggernaut meant to the world of music.” , Bronstein added. “At the same time, he has been a leading voice in important social and political causes, connecting his art with social justice to create a legacy of activism closely intertwined with his truly outsized influence on music.”
“Misty Copeland has broken new ground throughout her career as the first African-American woman to be promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre,” Bronstein said. “By excelling as a black woman in ballet, she led changes in the art form and inspired countless younger dancers, performers, athletes and audience members — in the process, elevating the power and relevance of dance as a medium of expression. “
This year marks Peabody Conservatory's 142nd graduation exercises. The undergraduate ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, followed by a second graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. available to view via live stream. In-person attendance is ticketed and reserved for alumni and their families and guests. Additional details are available at Peabody Institute website.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/stevie-wonder-misty-copeland-george-peabody-medal-1235671657/
