Berklee Valencia Honors Eric Whitacre at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony

Berklee Valencia Honors Eric Whitacre at the 2026 Commencement Ceremony The Grammy-winning composer was celebrated alongside this years cohort of masters degree recipients at Berklee's campus in Spain.

July 7, 2026

By

Judit Border a

Berklee Valencias Honorary Doctorate recipient Eric Whitacre addresses the class of 2026 during commencement celebrations.

Image by Tato Baeza

Berklee President Jim Lucchese and Berklee Valencia Executive Director Simone Pilon presented an honorary Doctor of Music degree to Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre on Monday, July 6, at the 2026 commencement ceremony for those who a received master's degree at Berklee's campus in Valencia, Spain.

This honor was presented to Whitacre in recognition of his pioneering artistic vision, his extraordinary achievements as a composer and conductor, and his enduring contributions to music education and global artistic collaboration. One of the most influential voices in contemporary classical music, his work seamlessly blends acoustic music, technology, and multimedia performance, continually expanding the artistic possibilities of choral music for audiences around the world.

Mr. Whitacre, it is a privilege to recognize your career today. We celebrate your impressive and varied career and your commitment to music education, including your many interactions with Berklee. I am honored to present you with an honorary degree of Doctorate of Music , said Pilon at the ceremony.

You, as musicians, have been gifted the extraordinary privilege of bringing this practice of blending to a world that thirsts for it, Whitacre said in his remarks to the graduates. You are stewards of compassion. You are alchemists of empathy. Your job now, your sacred vocation, is to be the boat that will selflessly carry all those who wish to cross the water. Its not an easy calling. You will almost certainly encounter all manner of obstacles and far fewer victories. But it is a worthy calling, an important calling, and a good and beautiful way to spend your days.

Distinguished alumna speaker Carla Patullo BM '01, MM '13 joined Whitacre during the ceremony. She encouraged the students to stay curious, keep learning, embrace the unexpected, and most importantly, trust your own voice. She went on to add, No one else has your story or your experience. No one else hears the world the way that you do. That is your greatest strength.

At the commencement ceremony, 116 graduates from 34 countries received Master of Music degrees in Contemporary Performance (Production Concentration), Music Production, Technology, and Innovation, and Scoring for Film, Television, and Video Games, as well as Master of Arts degrees in Global Entertainment and Music Business. This year as well, eight students completed Berklee's post-master's program.

Berklee's honorary doctorate recipients are recognized for their achievements and influences in music, and for their lasting contributions to American and international culture. Past recipients include Duke Ellington (the first, in 1971), Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Loretta Lynn, Juan Luis Guerra, Annie Lennox, Paco de Lucia, George Clinton, Rita Moreno, A. R. Rahman, Missy Elliott, Andre 3000, Jacob Collier, and Jill Scott among many others. In the last five years, the Valencia campus has awarded honorary doctorates to Gilberto Gil, Alberto Iglesias, Yvette Noel-Schure, Youssou N'Dour, and Patrick Doyle.

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