Doctorate for Costello
Singer songwriter fourth Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to receive NEC degree
Elvis Costello Receives Honorary Doctorate at New England Conservatory
After a morning of working in the classroom with songwriters enrolled in New England Conservatory's Contemporary Improvisation program, Elvis Costello, one of today's most respected popular artists, received an honorary doctorate from NEC President Tony Woodcock (in photo above) after being presented by Hankus Netsky, Chair of the CI program. Netsky gamely assisted the newly-minted Doctor of Musical Arts with his ceremonial hood, an archaic accessory which he received with bemused good humor. Much more up-to-the-minute was the Red Sox cap that was a "graduation" present.
After the ceremony, Costello talked about his own genre-spanning career in a public forum, moderated by Boston Globe pop music critic Sarah Rodman.
Elvis Costello's visit to NEC immediately preceded his November concert tour, which includes several New England stops.
Costello, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003, is the fourth Hall of Famer—following Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, and Quincy Jones—to receive an honorary degree from NEC.
