Magdalena will receive the Honorary Doctorate of the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts (JAMU) in Brno, Czech Republic, together with Sir Simon Rattle at the ceremonial meeting of the JAMU Artistic Council on Tuesday 18 January at the Orlí Street Theatre, where the ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
Photo: Petra Hajská / Czech Philharmonic
Magdalena, a Brno native, does not conceal her emotions at receiving the highest award of the Academy of Arts: "I could easily divide my feelings connected with the award of the Honorary Doctorate of the Academy of Performing Arts into two groups: The first bundle includes the expected emotions like sincere joy, great pride, of course, a bit of nostalgia, all the beautiful Brno memories of my family, childhood, youth and friends... On the other hand, I keep asking myself: Why me? Do I really deserve such an honour? So I accept the title Doctor Honoris Causa of the JAMU not only as an extremely generous appreciation of my career so far but also as a commitment - as before, I will go on spreading the good name of my hometown and its eminent academy in all spheres of my artistic endeavours.”
Laudatio on the laureates will be delivered by the current Dean of the Faculty of Music of JAMU, Prof. Barbara M. Willi, PhD. "Magdalena Kožená is an icon for a whole generation of Czech artists. She is a singer who can combine intelligence with absolute technical perfection and emotional experience in her interpretation," notes Dean Willi. Both new bearers of the honorary doctorate will receive a diploma and an insignia of doctoral degree, i.e. the JAMU gold medal, from the hands of the Rector of the Brno Academy, Prof. Petr Oslzlý.
The decoration of the new Honorary Doctors of JAMU can be watched live here, on Magdalena's FB or on her YouToube channel.
