Violinist Robert McDuffie Receives Honorary Doctorate
When it comes to famed violinist Robert McDuffie, I’ve heard him play live (exemplary), watched him give a master class (riveting), and interviewed him by phone (priceless). I've met a few of my musical heroes over the years, but none have come close to exceeding my expectations in the way McDuffie has. So imagine my joy upon hearing he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Emory University at its commencement ceremony earlier this month.
Violinist Robert McDuffie.
The degree was given for McDuffie's work as an "arts advocate, musical collaborator, and violin virtuoso." This seems only fitting for a man whose remarkable and highly-individualized career has been fashioned by his seemingly endless desire to perform, create, and offer opportunities to others.
McDuffie is a Juilliard-trained, Emmy award-winning violinist who has appeared as soloist with too many of the world’s premier orchestras to name. But I'll name a few: The New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics; the Chicago, San Francisco, National, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, St. Louis, Montreal, and Toronto Symphonies; the Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Minnesota Orchestras; the London and Czech Philharmonics; Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Jerusalem Symphony, and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic at the Concertgebouw.
McDuffie performing Ashokan Farewell at the Rome Chamber Music Festival.
McDuffie founded the annual Rome Chamber Music Festival, which recently celebrated its 20th season. His work in Italy brought him several prestigious titles: the Premio Simpatia by the mayor of Rome, the Medaglia Ufficiale della Camera dei Deputati, and the Premio delle Muse in Florence.
In addition to serving as the Robert McDuffie Violin Faculty Chair at the Aspen Music Festival and School, I’d venture to say the accomplishment of which he might be most proud is the creation of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University in his hometown of Macon, Georgia. When awarding the honorary doctorate, Emory’s President Gregory L. Fenves said that the Center for Strings “attracts and nurtures some of the nation’s most gifted performers.”
Fenves also mentioned a few of McDuffie’s iconic performances, specifically “The American Four Seasons” by Philip Glass and “Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and String Orchestra” by Mike Mills of R.E.M., both of which were written for McDuffie. Other projects noted in the commencement remarks included McDuffie’s ten years on the board of directors of the Harlem School of the Arts and collaborations like A Night of Georgia Music, filmed at The Grand Opera House in 2022 for distribution to PBS stations across the country.
Fenves summed up my favorite violinist quite perfectly in his address: “Robert, you create music that tells a powerful story, coaxed to life through hands and heart as if by magic.” He also praised McDuffie as a “musical ambassador” for his work around the world with “exciting interpretations of diverse repertoire that blur boundaries and break down barriers.”
Well done, Dr. McDuffie.
You might also like:
- Interview with Violinist Robert McDuffie: Brahms and Beyond
- For the Record, Op. 12: Rock Concerto for Robert McDuffie
- Robert McDuffie and Friends Labor Day Festival
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May 21, 2024 at 08:13 PM · Mr Edward Newhouse, Dorothy DeLay's husband, told me a hilarious story which featured Robert McDuffie.
Apparently, Robert was in the habit of phoning Miss DeLay's house and putting on funny voices and accents.
One day, the phone rang, Mr Newhouse answered, and the voice at the other end said: "Hello. This is Stephen from the Mayor's office in Kansas."
Mr Newhouse was certain this was Robert McDuffie, so he played along with it.
"What can I do for you?" he asked.
"Well, I am calling on behalf of the Mayor. The State of Kansas would like to honor Miss DeLay, and we were wondering what you might suggest we do."
Mr Newhouse, still convinced that this was McDuffie, thought for a moment. Then he came up with an idea.
"I'm sure there's space on Mount Rushmore," he said. "How about adding an image of her there?"
There was a pause at the other end of the phone. Then: "I'll have to check with the Mayor about that."
He went off. Mr Newhouse waited. The assistant came back.
"The idea you've suggested is deemed as inappropriate," he said.
Mr Newhouse had had enough.
"Oh, come on, Bobby, I know it's you!"
"No," said the Mayor's secretary, "Bobby is away on vacation. This is Stephen."
It really was the Mayor's office!