VanderCook College of Music announced it will honor John D’Addario, Jr. and James D’Addario with the Doctor of Music Education Honoris Causa Award at the summer graduate commencement ceremonies to be held Saturday, July 24, 2015.
Chicago, IL – Thursday, July 23, 2015
On Saturday, July 24, 2015, VanderCook College of Music will bestow the Doctor of Music Education Honoris Causa Award to John D’Addario, Jr. and James D’Addario at their summer graduate commencement ceremonies to be held in Orchestra Hall, Symphony Center, Chicago, Illinois. The D’Addario Brothers, both leaders in music industry are receiving this award because of their life’s work in developing and advancing products used to enrich the lives of musicians, students through professionals.
D’Addario & Company, Inc. is an international leader in the design and manufacture of musical instrument accessories for such brands as: D’Addario, Planet Waves, Evans Drumheads, Promark, Puresound Percussion and D’Addario/Rico Woodwind accessories.
John D. Addario, Jr. served as President of D’Addario & Company, Inc. throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s where he was instrumental in helping the company expand their product line’s manufacture and distribution. He is currently President of the D’Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts.
James D’Addario is the Chairman and CEO of D’Addario & Company, Inc. Mr. D’Addario is focusing his attention on production and process innovation, as well as marketing and branding for all D’Addario brands.
John and James D’Addario represent the eighth generation of D’Addarios to have an impact in the music world. D’Addarios’ ancestors have been actively making music strings since 1680 in Salle, Italy. The family name was first introduced as a “brand” of strings to the global market in 1974.
The D’Addario family tradition continues with nine family members of the next generation actively involved in the company’s management. Headquartered in Farmington, New York, D’Addario & Company, Inc. now operates divisions all over the globe with more than 1,100 employees. D’Addario manufactures 95% of its products in the United States and exports approximately 50% of its output.
The graduate commencement ceremonies will be held beginning at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 25, 2015. During the ceremonies, the Summer Graduate Symphonic Band, Collegiate Choral, Philharmonic Strings and Concert Choir will give performances.
VanderCook will also be awarding the Master of Music Education degree to 66 candidates from around the nation.
“This is a special day for our college, for these sixty-six music educators and two industry leaders” commented VanderCook President, Dr. Charles T. Menghini. Menghini went on to say, “The business of teaching music requires a partnership between education and industry. Members of the music industry community such as James and John D’Addario Jr. make it possible for our graduates to have the finest instruments, accessories and music available for them to use in their classrooms around the world. We are honored that we can thank them in this very special way.”
