Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Honor Cynthia Erivo and Awadagin Pratt at Commencement Ceremony

20/04/2023

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Honor Cynthia Erivo and Awadagin Pratt at Commencement Ceremony Interim Executive Director Lucinda Carver will present honorary doctorates in person to Pratt and virtually to Erivo during the Conservatory's commencement on Saturday, May 13.

By

Tori Donahue

April 20, 2023

Boston Conservatory at Berklee will present honorary doctorates to Cynthia Erivo (left) and Awadagin Pratt (right) during the Conservatory's commencement on Saturday, May 13.

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Interim Executive Director Lucinda Carver will present an honorary doctorate in person to acclaimed concert pianist Awadagin Pratt and virtually to Emmy-, Grammy-, and Tony-winning actress, singer, author, and producer Cynthia Erivo at the Conservatory's commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13. Pratt will deliver commencement remarks for the Boston Conservatory at Berklee class of 2023 at the ceremony, while Erivo will deliver remarks to the graduating class and receive her honorary doctorate virtually.

Erivo and Pratt will be recognized for their achievements and influences in music, television, film, and theater. Past honorary degree recipients for Boston Conservatory at Berklee include Debbie Allen, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Betty Buckley, Barbara Cook, Andr De Shields, Sutton Foster, Victoria Livengood (M.M. 85, voice), Nicholas Paleologos, Billy Porter, Leontyne Price, Chita Rivera, Mary Rogers, and Brian Stokes Mitchell, among others.

It is an absolute honor to welcome pianist Awadagin Pratt and actress Cynthia Erivo to Boston Conservatory at Berklee as part of this year's commencement festivities, said Carver. Awadagin Pratt's distinguished performances have brought joy and inspiration to audiences for decades, and Cynthia Erivo's marvelous acting and vocal abilities have garnered legions of television, music, theater, and movie fans around the world.

Boston Conservatory at Berklee will hold its commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13 at 4:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center.

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo is an Emmy-, Grammy-, and Tony-winning actress, singer, author, and producer, as well as an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominee. Since bursting onto West End and Broadway stages in The Color Purple, she has taken the world by storm.

Erivo is currently in production on Universal's film adaptation of the hit musical Wicked, where she will star as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande's Glinda in the highly anticipated film from director Jon M. Chu. Wicked: Part One will be released in late 2024.

She was most recently seen starring opposite Idris Elba and Andy Serkis in the Netflix feature film installment of Luther: The Fallen Sun, continuing the story of the acclaimed crime series. Erivo plays Odette Raine, a by-the-book inspector who finds herself John Luther's unlikely ally. Luther: The Fallen Sun was the number one film on Netflix the week of its premiere in March 2023. In fall 2022, Erivo starred in Disney+'s Pinocchio as the Blue Fairy, opposite Tom Hanks, Keegan Michael Key, and Luke Evans.

Erivo can next be seen starring in and producing Drift, directed by Anthony Chen. The film follows a young Liberian refugee named Jacqueline, played by Erivo, who has barely escaped her war-torn country to a Greek island. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2023, and opened to rave reviews.

Erivo has received widespread critical acclaim for her work, including two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and a Grammy Award nomination for her portrayal of Harriet Tubman in 2019's Harriet, in addition to lending her voice to the movie's title song, Stand Up, which she cowrote. She also received SAG and Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in National Geographic's Emmy Award-winning global anthology series Genius: Aretha.

In addition to her illustrious acting career, Erivo is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and performer, often headlining sold-out shows, symphonies, and music spaces, including the Kennedy Center Honors, the 2020 Academy Awards, the 2017 Governors Ball, and the 2017 Grammy Awards. Erivo released her debut album, Ch. 1 Vs. 1, with Verve Records and Universal Music Group in September 2021.

Erivo added author to her r sum in fall 2021 with the release of her first children's book, Remember to Dream, Ebere. The book follows a young girl named Ebere whose mother encourages her to dream as big as possible. Erivo wrote the book as an ode to a child's imagination, a parent's love, and the big dreams shared by both.

In August 2020, Erivo launched her production company, Edith's Daughter, and announced her first-look deal with MRC Television and Civic Center Media. Edith's Daughter focuses on projects that express the beauty in the stories and people who are often overlooked and underrepresented. Erivo named Solome Williams as vice president of the company.

Awadagin Pratt

Among his generation of concert artists, pianist Awadagin Pratt is acclaimed for his musical insight and intensely involving performances in recital and with symphony orchestras. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pratt began studying piano at the age of six. Three years later, having moved to Normal, Illinois with his family, he also began studying violin. At the age of 16, he entered the University of Illinois, where he studied piano, violin, and conducting. He subsequently enrolled at the Peabody Institute (previously the Peabody Conservatory of Music) of the Johns Hopkins University, where he became the first student in the school's history to receive diplomas in three performance areas: piano, violin, and conducting.

In 1992, Pratt won the Naumburg International Piano Competition, and two years later was
LINK: https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/boston-conservatory-at-berkle...
See more stories from berklee

More from Berklee

09/05/2025

Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates

Berklee Popular Music Institute Announces UK Festival Debut and Tour Dates For the first time, BPMI will bring Berklee-affiliated artists and students to the ...

08/05/2025

Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan

Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan The Armenian composer, who was named Boston Conservatory at Berklees 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about his ...

02/05/2025

Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music Conference

Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music ...

02/05/2025

Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards

Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards Fifteen alumni from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music contributed to nomin...

30/04/2025

Tania Len and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee's Commencement Ceremony

Tania Le n and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee&...

30/04/2025

Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College of Music 2025 Commencement

Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College ...

25/04/2025

Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Afternoon

Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Af...

24/04/2025

Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert

Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert The event will feature Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning artist Miguel Zen n BM '98, cuatro...

24/04/2025

Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito Pez Inspires at Berklee

Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito P ez Inspires at Berklee In a session hosted by the Mediterranean Music Institute, the influential Argentine musician...

23/04/2025

Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Culture

Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Cul...

19/04/2025

Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC

Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC This season features faculty member Arun Pandian as the new host and interviews ...

18/04/2025

Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist

Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The drummer secured a spot among the elite winners in this years competition. By Maddie...

18/04/2025

Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway

Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway The Latin American immigrant community takes center stage in a new musical featuring Tatian...

17/04/2025

In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward

In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward From mood boards to live demos, the alumni band gave students an exclusive look at the process behin...

17/04/2025

Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lewis has more than 20 years of industry experience, leading fundraising initiati...

16/04/2025

Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap

Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap The pop star, songwriter, and producer talked about his career and shared stories behind his biggest hits, inc...

12/04/2025

Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration

Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration Charlie Puth, Tiny Desk, top A&Rs, and more came together for a day of professional development and energet...

11/04/2025

Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles

Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles Discover some of the many types of electronic music and how they've shaped contemporary mu...

05/04/2025

Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert

Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert Known for his work with Bowie and John Lennon, the influential guitarist will also visit cl...

04/04/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at Spring Dance Concert: Limitless

Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at S...

03/04/2025

Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Council

Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Co...

03/04/2025

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert The student-led event, Mehfil, will feature songs in eight different languages and blen...

03/04/2025

Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial O...

02/04/2025

Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Music Fund

Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Musi...

28/03/2025

Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra

Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra The singer-songwriter enrolled in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program talks about her love of medicine and music, ov...

28/03/2025

Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025

Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025 The Signature Series event will celebrate over 40 years of gospel music at Berklee. By Colet...

28/03/2025

Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership

Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership Cavalier receives the rare Julius M. Nolte Award from UPCEA. By Colette Greenstein ...

26/03/2025

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Next Jazz Legacy Cohort

New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Nex...

22/03/2025

Antonio Snchez, Bla Fleck, and Edmar Castaeda Push Boundaries on BEATrio

Antonio S nchez, B la Fleck, and Edmar Casta eda Push Boundaries on BEATrio The trio's debut album drops May 16, but you can hear the first single, Archi...

21/03/2025

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern The Berklee professor's immersive installation transports visitors to Matanzas...

21/03/2025

Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival

Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival Performances will feature modern jazz masters Sean Jones, Ayn Inserto, Miguel Zen n BM '98, and Christine...

21/03/2025

PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent

PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and fifth-semester musical theater major Olivia Goosman talk a...

21/03/2025

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate Modern's East Tank

Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate...

21/03/2025

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, ...

20/03/2025

Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performance Center

Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performanc...

19/03/2025

Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase

Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase Find out how you can get your work in front of more people with these music marketing str...

19/03/2025

Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding Song

Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding So...

17/03/2025

BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase

BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase eight artists performing at this summer's ho...

15/03/2025

Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane

Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with ...

14/03/2025

Singaporean singer-songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity

Singaporean Singer-Songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity The artist shared candid insights into his musical evolution, personal challenges, and ...

13/03/2025

Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice

Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions. ...

12/03/2025

Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations

Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits. By Madd...

11/03/2025

New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B

New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B In The Quiet Storm, Berklee Online alumnus Amani Roberts explores how the radio format defined America...

11/03/2025

The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering

The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering The Signature Series concert will feature performances by all nine of the instit...

10/03/2025

Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme

Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme Boston is the only host city to work with an educational institution to create its unique,...

06/03/2025

Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent

Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent When Boston Calling comes to Allston this May, student performers will light up the festival'...

06/03/2025

Building a Home Studio? Start Here.

Building a Home Studio? Start Here. Berklee professors and alumni break down the basics of setting up your home music studio, and share tips on how to get the...

03/03/2025

The Art of Connection

The Art of Connection Alums Melanie Bacaling and Gabriella Reyes share a deep bond that's carried them to the heights of the opera world. By Sarah Godch...

03/03/2025

Scripting Her Path

Scripting Her Path Writer Alexis Scheer takes on a wide range of subject matter, from the stage to the screen. March 3, 2025 Alexis Scheer Photo by Gabriel...

27/02/2025

Student Spotlight: Manuela Snchez Goubert

Student Spotlight: Manuela S nchez Goubert The vocalist from Bogot , Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RA CES (roots), and how Berklee ha...