Icelandic Volcano Will Not Stop Kyoto Laureate Symposium Presentation

Due to the Icelandic volcano eruption that has crippled air travel to and from Europe, Maestro Pierre Boulez, the 2009 recipient of the Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy will not be attending Thursday afternoon’s presentation at the University of San Diego. 

Although he is extremely disappointed to miss the presentation and the opportunity to interact with San Diego’s music community, Maestro Boulez and the nine talented musicians who have spent months preparing for Thursday’s event have insisted “the show must go on.” 

To assist with the performance, the University of San Diego has enlisted the assistance of three very talented San Diego musicians. 

The famed Jahja Ling, Music Director for the San Diego Symphony, will provide introductory remarks.  And, Phillipe Manoury, an esteemed Professor of Music at UC San Diego has agreed to deliver Maestro Boulez’s prepared commentary while Steven Schick, conductor of the La Jolla Symphony conducts the nine-member orchestra’s performance of excerpts for Boulez’s famed Sur Incises.

“It was devastating to learn that Maestro Boulez would be unable to travel to San Diego, however, we have assured him that in spite of his physical absence, his presence would be felt through his music and the beautiful video tribute,” commented Mary E. Lyons, president of the University of San Diego.  “We are delighted to have the enthusiastic support of Messrs. Ling, Manoury and Schick, and assure are guests that this year’s Kyoto Laureate Symposium will be an unforgettable experience,” added Lyons. 

The Symposium will be held at USD’s Shiley Theatre on Thursday, April 22 beginning at 3:30 pm.  To register go to http://www.kyotoprize.org/.
 
About the University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Catholic institution of higher learning chartered in 1949; the school enrolls some 7,800 undergraduate and graduate students and is known for its commitment to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values and community service. The fall 2007 establishment of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies brings the University's total number of schools and colleges to six. Other academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of Business Administration, Leadership and Education Sciences, Law and Nursing and Health Sciences.

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.