The UAB awards an honorary doctorate to music director Josep Pons

With regards to quality, he emphasised that research has always guided Josep Pons, as have the attention and ingenuity of his programmings. "With the Orquestra del Lliure we would practice around 10 times to prepare for a concert, or more if was necessary. He did the same when conducting the Fine Arts Choir of Sabadell (1986) and the Carmina Choir (1988-1990), and turned them into leading choir groups. Another indicator of the quality of his work, and also of what we now call “knowledge transfer” are his 40 CDs released under Harmonia Mundi France since 1991, and 10 recordings with Deutsche Grammophon, which has received several international awards: a Grammy, a Cannes Classical Award, a Diapassons d’or and a Chocs de la musique, as well as the Académie Charles Cross Prize".

In relation to modern music, Francesc Cortès highlighted the music director's commitment, "with an open attitude that breaks the barriers between styles and genres, and which combines syphonic orchestras with artists such as Miguel Ríos, Franck Zappa, Nino Rota, Tomatito, and Miguel Poveda".

Following his speech, UAB Rector Javier Lafuente was in charge of awarding the diploma and medal to Josep Pons. Rector Lafuente explained that the new honorary doctor's qualities formed part of the fundational ideals of the UAB. "That is why it is an honour to see ourselves reflected in people such as him, who help us preserve a top level, open and innovative university". According to Rector Lafuente, "Josep Pons' trajectory is a fine example of this vitality and his commitment to modern repetoires, a desire to seduce new audiences and promote new talents".

Josep Pons, upon receiving his award, gave his master speech entitled «Qui soc. Com soc. Què faig" [Who Am I? How Am I? What Do I Do?], in which he explained his creed: "I firmly believe that through art we can acquire knowledge. Art instils knowledge". He added that "I believe in the need for art, always, and particularly now in the times we are living. I believe art is the only remedy that can get us out of simplifying dualisms. I believe in the magic of art and music. And finally, I believe in honesty and commitment, as the pillars which allow me to "be" and not to "appear to be". He also said that "music starts where words end; it tells us a story words cannot express, and it tells it in a direct and transparent manner". 

With regard to his profession, he explained that "a good conductor cannot become one until they are able to listen to a score with their eyes and read it with their ears". For Josep Pons, the main role of an orchestra conductor is "to bring together souls, unite them to make them form one single soul, while respecting each one of them and providing a space for them to express themselves".

After his master speech, a fragment was projected of the Symphonic Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, directed Josep Pons, performing "El amor brujo" by Manuel de Falla, and the event ended with Gaudeamus Igitur. The awards ceremony included a limited number of attendants due to the current health situation and was streamed live on the UAB's YouTube channel. 

Some 200 people attended the event which took place at the UAB Auditorium of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and included the Minister for Culture Àngels Ponsa; Mayor of Cerdanyola del Vallès Carlos Cordón; President of the Gran Teatre del Liceu Salvador Alemany; and President of the Orfeó Català Mariona Carulla.