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RELEASED: Dec. 9, 2004
DANVILLE, KY—Denyce Graves, one of the world’s most exciting vocal stars, is coming to Centre College. The internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by Centre, at the College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 17. The following evening, Tuesday, Jan. 18, she will give a concert at Newlin Hall at 8:00 p.m.
Graves, a native of Washington, D.C., has won popular and critical praise for her concert appearances as well as for her portrayals of operatic heroines such as Carmen and Delila. Her performance at the prayer service at the National Cathedral following the 2001 terrorist attacks has achieved legendary status. Los Angeles Magazine wrote of her rendition of “America the Beautiful “[a]t the last verse her voice became lighter, purer. Climbing the register, she sustained notes for so long that the lyrics—with their vivid description of American landscapes—lost their meaning. They became pure sound: the sound of hope, the sound of possibility, the sound of something that words alone could not convey.”
Graves has been described by USA Today as “[one] of the singers most likely to be an operatic superstar of the 21st century.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said, “Put simply: if the human voice has the power to move you, you will be touched by Denyce Graves.”
The appearance by Graves tops an unusually strong January convocation lineup.
Other January convocations include:
Jan. 10, 7 p.m., Newlin Hall—Motivational speaker Will Keim will discuss the prevalence and prevention of rape on college campuses.
Jan. 13, 7 p.m., Young 101—Visiting education professor Peter Chonjo will dispel myths about East Africa in a presentation on Tanzanian education.
Jan. 17, 7 p.m, Newlin Hall—Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The Meeting, Jeff Stetson’s award-winning play, explores what might have happened if Malcolm X and Martin Luther King had met before they were assassinated. Denyce Graves honorary degree presentation.
Jan. 18, 8 p.m., Newlin Hall. Denyce Graves.
Jan. 19, 11 a.m., Founders Day. To honor the founding of Centre College, the 2005 Founders Day speaker will be Dean K. Thompson, president of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Dr. Thompson will receive an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree and speak on the subject of “Martin Luther King: America’s Moses. “
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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/
For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.
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