UNT alumna, Grammy Award winner Norah Jones awarded UNT Presidential Medal of Honor during campus visit Sept. 21

Thursday, September 22, 2016 - 14:15
UNT alumna Norah Jones speaks with John Richmond, dean of the College of Music. Photo by Ahna Hubnik
UNT alumna Norah Jones speaks with John Richmond, dean of the College of Music. Photo by Ahna Hubnik

University of North Texas alumna and musician Norah Jones received a big welcome home Sept. 21 (Wednesday) when she returned to the university she attended before launching her Grammy Award-winning career.

As part of her visit, Jones received the Presidential Medal of Honor -- the highest medal given by the university and presented by UNT President Neal Smatresk. Jones was a jazz studies student in UNT's College of Music from 1997 to 1999, and has gone on to win nine Grammys -- the most prestigious award in the recording industry -- and sell more than 50 million records. Her newest and sixth solo album, Day Breaks, will come out Oct. 7 and is reminiscent of her piano-focused music of her 2002 debut CD, Come Away With Me.

Jones will perform in Denton as part of the Sept. 22-24 Oaktopia music festival, of which UNT is the premier sponsor. She will then embark on an extensive tour through the United States and Europe.

The events at UNT began when Jones took part in a question-and-answer session with music students, facilitated by John W. Richmond, dean of the College of Music, in the Recital Hall of the Music Building.

After the Q&A, Smatresk presented Jones with the UNT Presidential Medal of Honor, an exclusive award given by the president to acknowledge those who have elevated the university and made significant contributions to the world. It is the highest presidential honor given to an individual. Only one other alumnus -- sports broadcaster George Dunham -- has received the award.

"Norah Jones is a celebrated artist who has had such a wonderful impact on the music world, and she has made her alma mater proud," President Smatresk said. "Her journey from music student to award-winning artist and musical icon inspires our students to work hard to fulfill their dreams."

Jones studied for two years in UNT's jazz studies program and was part of the UNT Jazz Singers and the Zebras, a jazz piano group. In 1999, she moved to New York City to pursue her singing career and soon after, she was signed by Blue Note Records. She has performed during the Grammy and Academy Award ceremonies and has appeared in the movies My Blueberry Nights and Ted and in the TV shows Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock and Sesame Street.

About the UNT College of Music

The UNT College of Music is one of the world's largest and most respected comprehensive music schools. The college offers fully accredited degrees from the bachelor's to doctoral levels and is home to the world's first jazz studies program. The music faculty is made up of internationally acclaimed artists and scholars in composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, music education, music history, music theory and performance. The College of Music enriches the community by producing more than 1,000 diverse concerts and recitals annually. Distinguished UNT music alumni can be found around the globe in impressive, award-winning careers across a wide-range of music professions.

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