Renowned composer receives honorary doctorate from University of Limerick

MUSIC rang out through the walls of the University of Limerick (UL) as one of the world’s most prolific composers Jörg Widmann received an honorary doctorate.

Professor Jörg Widmann, world-renowned composer, clarinettist, and former principal conductor of the Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO), was conferred by UL President Professor Kerstin Mey in a ceremony at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.

Mr Widmann received the honour due to the “extraordinary contribution” he made during his time as principal conductor of the ICO, which is resident at the Irish World Academy in UL.

An acclaimed soloist and conductor, he is one of the world’s most frequently performed living composers.

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The ceremony also featured the presentation of the inaugural ICO scholarships to two students of the MA in Classical String Performance programme.

Professor Mey said: “The partnership between and the Irish World Academy and ICO represents the oldest and longest artistic residency in the Academy and has been at the heart of the development of performing arts education at UL.

“The partnership between us led us to the creation of the first-ever university-based postgraduate programme dedicated to classical string performance in Ireland. Now in its 25th year, the MA in Classical String Performance has consistently attracted international students from across the globe – it sits as a paragon of musical education.

“Today we are recognising the amazing work and growing international reputation of the ICO, which has expanded in the last decade under the artistic leadership of Jörg Widmann. In turn, this growth and development has further enhanced the reputation of the MA Classical String Performance.

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“I want to offer our collective thanks and congratulations to Professor Widmann, and it is fitting that the programme’s two inaugural scholarship recipients share the stage with our honorary doctorate recipient on this day of celebrating achievements in music and dance at UL when we also recognise the contributions of past and present colleagues more broadly,” Professor Mey added.

Professor Widmann said it was “really a great honour for me to receive this honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick because I of course had a long connection with Ireland in general and with Limerick and the University in particular because I had the privilege to work for a long time together with the wonderful Irish Chamber Orchestra.”

The honorary doctorate ceremony featured performances by members of the ICO and students of the MA Classical String Performance programme at the Irish World Academy.