Technion Awards Honorary Doctorate to Maestro Zubin Mehta

The Technion awarded Maestro Zubin Mehta an Honorary Doctorate at a gala concert given by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the renovated Charles Bronfman Auditorium in Tel Aviv on Thursday, July 18th. The special concert, which was titled “A Musical Matter”, was conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta and Presented by Technion’s Distinguished Prof. Dan Shechtman, 2011 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. This was the season’s closing concert of the “IPO in Jeans” series and was attended by multiple generations of Technion alumni.

A festive reception was held before the concert under the generous auspices of the Keter Group, courtesy of Tova and Sammy Segol. Present at the reception were Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie and his wife Dr. Lena Lavie; 2011 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Distinguished Prof. Dan Shechtman and his wife Prof. Ziporah Shechtman; 2009 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry Prof. Ada Yonath; former Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz; University of Haifa President Amos Shapira; hi-tech entrepreneur and Technion alumnus Moshe Yanai; the Economic Attaché at the French Embassy Didier Wisselmann; Chairman of the Israel Technion Society Major General (res.) Amos Horevand members of the Society; and members of the Technion administration.

The Philharmonic Orchestra began the gala concert with Meyerbeer’s Coronation March conducted by Prof. Dan Shechtman. After the short piece, Maestro Zubin Mehta and Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie took the stage in academic gowns, together with Mr. Sammy Segol, and the honorary degree was conferred on Maestro Zubin Mehta.

Mehta was awarded the degree “in recognition of [his] unique and historic contribution to music in the world in general, and in Israel in particular, through [his] iconic association with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra for more than half a century; in celebration of [his] artistic genius, cultural leadership, magnetic personality, and lifelong dedication to transcending the barriers of nations, societies and religions through music; and in deep admiration for [his] enduring, unconditional and unwavering devotion to, and love for, the State of Israel and its people”.

Photo: Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie conferring the degree on Maestro Zubin Mehta. Photographs by Assaf Shilo / Israel Sun