CalArts to Honor Composer John Cage With Doctorate

John Cage, a contemporary American composer known for his unique approaches to electronic music, will receive an honorary doctorate from the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia.

Although best known for his work as a composer, especially music he wrote for the Merce Cunningham Dance Troupe, Cage is also highly regarded by many critics for his writing on aesthetics and philosophy.

Cage studied counterpoint with composer Arnold Schoenberg, has taught at the New School of Social Research in New York City and has been honored by the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Academy of Arts and Letters.

Cage will receive his honorary CalArts degree on May 9. He is the 11th recipient of a CalArts honorary degree, and this year is the only one. Previous recipients have been Beverly Sills, Roy Lichtenstein, Twyla Tharp, Gordon Davidson, Haskell Wexler, Mischa Schneider, Bella Lewitzky, Henry Mancini, Jan DeGaetani and Ravi Shankar.