Indiana University East will present an Indiana University Honorary Doctor of Music to Richmond native Jack Everly during its Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 14.

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie will confer the honorary degree during commencement, available to watch live stream. The honorary Doctor of Music recognizes individuals for outstanding achievement to the arts and humanities.

Jack Everly will receive an IU Honorary Doctor of Music during IU East’s Commencement Ceremony on May 14. Everly is a native of Richmond, Indiana, and currently resides in Indianapolis.

The honorary degree, the highest academic recognition Indiana University can bestow, is awarded to individuals who demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity and sincere concern for the public good. In addition, candidates for the honorary degree generally have significant ties to the state of Indiana or to Indiana University. Through this high honor, IU seeks to recognize individuals who may serve as role models for students, faculty, alumni and the people of the state of Indiana.

“It is an honor to recognize Maestro Everly’s lifelong passion for the arts and to present him with an honorary degree,” said IU East Chancellor Kathy Girten. “Jack’s contributions to music extend beyond Broadway, movies and television performances.Through his innovative work he has introduced millions of people to new genres of music and live orchestra performances. His outstanding reputation attracts people to performances – held in Indiana as well as nationally – making him a key contributor to our state’s quality of life and economic vitality.”

Everly currently lives in Indianapolis.

He is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Indianapolis and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra (Florida) and the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa). He has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, the San Francisco Symphony and numerous appearances with The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center. Maestro Everly annually conducts more than 90 performances in cities across North America.

Celebrating his 11th anniversary as Music Director of the National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth on PBS, Maestro Everly proudly leads the National Symphony Orchestra in these patriotic celebrations on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.  These concerts attract hundreds of thousands attendees on the lawn and the broadcasts reach millions of viewers and are some of the very highest rated programming on PBS television.

Everly is the also Music Director of the IPL Yuletide Celebration, which will celebrate its 35th Anniversary this coming holiday season. He led the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in its first Pops recording, Yuletide Celebration, Volume One, that included three of his own orchestrations. Some of his other recordings include In The Presence featuring the Czech Philharmonic and Daniel Rodriguez, Sandi Patty’s Broadway Stories, the soundtrack to Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Everything’s Coming Up Roses: The Complete Overtures Of Jule Styne.

Originally appointed by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Everly was conductor of the American Ballet Theatre for 14 years, where he served as music director. In addition to his ABT tenure, he teamed with Marvin Hamlisch on Broadway shows that Hamlisch scored. He conducted Carol Channing hundreds of times in Hello, Dolly! in two separate Broadway productions.

Maestro Everly is a 1970 graduate of Richmond High School and is recognized as a RHS Distinguished Alumni. Everly attended Indiana University where he graduated from the Jacobs School of Music in 1974. Since then, he has devoted his life to the performing arts and has worked as a conductor, arranger, composer, music director and broadcast recording artist.

For more information on the IU East Commencement Ceremony, visit iue.edu/commencement.