AR Rahman has been conferred honorary doctorate by the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The music maestro will officially accept the honorary doctor of music degree, from the College on October 24 this year. Students and faculty of Berklee have organized a concert on Rahman’s compositions as a tribute to the Oscar winner. Rahman and students from his music conservatory are also expected to join the students onstage for select pieces. Noted music composer R Prasanna, an alumni from the college will also join the composer. AR Rahman wil also be conducting a master class for the students at the college’s performance hall. A scholarship will also be instituted in his name to benefit deserving students from India to attend the prestigious institution.
Acknowledging the honour, Rahman said, “I’m deeply moved to receive an honorary doctorate from such a distinguished school which has contributed so much to the world of music. I’m especially proud and honored the college is graciously establishing a scholarship in my name for future generations of musicians to follow their dreams.”
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The 6o-piece ensemble to be put together by the students and faculty of Berklee will include his popular film tracks, as well as his collaborative pieces with international artistes like Mick Jagger, Michael Bolton, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Will.i.am. Berklee’s president Roger H. Brown lauded the composer and said, “A friend from India described A.R. Rahman to me as John Williams and Sting rolled into one – a leading film composer and a wildly popular, brilliant songwriter and performer. We welcome him to Berklee, where the college and our students look forward to paying our respects.”
Rahman has earlier received honorary doctorates from Middlesex university in London, Aligarh Muslim University and Anna University in India and Miami University in Ohio.