Grammy Award-winning George Shirley is the Joseph Edgar Maddy Distinguished University Emeritus Professor of Music and former Director of the Vocal Arts Division of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He has won international acclaim for his performances with the Metropolitan Opera, where he was the first African-American tenor to sing leading roles. He has performed with major symphony orchestras, opera houses and festivals worldwide. In 2011, he received the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for his article, “Music Education in Detroit’s Public Schools: The Struggle to Survive” (NewMusicBox, June 2010). In September 2015, he received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music from UM in December 2015. This lecture is for adults 50+.