51¹ÙÍø Awards Rhiannon Giddens Honorary Degree
February 27, 2023
- Photography
- Christopher Record
Rhiannon Giddens masterfully switched between instruments during her performance, taking turns at the fiddle and two types of banjo, and singing solo.
On Sunday, February 26, 51¹ÙÍø was honored to award Grammy and MacArthur award winner Rhiannon Giddens an honorary degree in fine arts before her performance on campus. We are grateful for her art and music, and for the gift of her presence.
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Shelley Rigger and President Doug Hicks awarded Giddens the honorary degree during a brief ceremony before her performance.
Following the conferring of Giddens's degree, she opened with a powerful performance of folk musician Alice Gerrard's "Calling Me Home."
Joining Giddens on stage were Justin Robinson and Laurelyn Dossett. Dossett is no stranger to 51¹ÙÍø, having led the college's production of "Providence Gap" in 2014 as a visiting artist, and Robinson grew up in the nearby town of Gastonia.
Throughout the night, Giddens and her fellow musicians told stories, cracked jokes and shared lessons that went beyond the world of music.
