One of the world’s leading jazz musicians delivered an uplifting address to graduates of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland today (Thursday 3 July), reflecting on his love for Scotland and the lasting influence it has had on his life and career.

Wynton Marsalis, the internationally acclaimed trumpeter, composer, bandleader and educator, is widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in jazz.

After receiving an honorary doctorate at RCS’s summer graduation ceremony for his services to music, which he termed a ‘prestigious honour’, Marsalis’ speech to the class of 2025 credited Scotland with shaping key moments in his musical journey.

He said: “I have a deep love and appreciation for this country. From her, I have received some priceless gifts. My great mentor and long-term bandmate, baritone saxophonist Joe Temperley, was born in 1927 in Fife… He was a walking advertisement for Scotland.”

Marsalis joined graduating students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, a world leader in performing arts education.

In March, RCS retained its sixth place in the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject, the ninth time it has been placed in the top ten since the ranking was established in 2016.

Marsalis is the world’s first jazz artist to perform and compose across the full jazz spectrum, from its New Orleans roots to bebop to modern jazz.

By creating and performing an expansive range of new jazz and classical music for ensembles ranging from quartets to big bands, chamber music ensembles to symphony orchestras, tap dance to ballet, Marsalis has expanded the vocabulary for jazz and created a vital body of work that places him among the world’s finest musicians and composers.

As Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, he has cultivated an institution that uplifts jazz as an essential – and distinctly American – art form. Under Marsalis’ direction, Jazz at Lincoln Center opened Frederick P. Rose Hall in 2004, the world’s first performance, broadcast and education facility dedicated to jazz.

Beyond performance and artistic leadership, Marsalis has devoted his career to music education, mentoring generations of musicians and leading initiatives to bring jazz to global audiences.

His impact has been recognised with numerous honours, including the US National Medal of Arts, France’s Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, and Japan’s Praemium Imperiale.

Marsalis believes music has the power to elevate our quality of life and the quality of human engagement for individuals, social networks and cultural institutions throughout the world.

Later this afternoon, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will also confer an honorary doctorate in production arts on Bunny Christie OBE, a multi-award-winning set and costume designer whose creative vision has transformed the world’s most celebrated theatre productions.

With two Tony Awards and four Olivier Awards under her belt, Christie made history as the first woman to win the Olivier Award for Best Design and was also the first woman to receive the Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Designer.

Born and raised in St Andrews, she has a long relationship with the National Theatre, designing in all its theatre spaces and devising shows at the NT Studio. Her work at the NT covers production and costume design for many of the classics and new plays.

One of her most celebrated designs, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, premiered at the National Theatre before transferring to the West End and Broadway, winning widespread acclaim, and completing UK, US and East Asian tours. She also devised a small-scale touring version of Curious Incident, giving many students their first experience of live theatre and supporting the teaching of drama in schools.

An honorary doctorate in music was also bestowed, in absentia, on pop legend Lulu. The entertainment icon has spent over sixty years in the spotlight with a career that is something to Shout about – from blasting on to the pop scene at 15 to being crowned a Eurovision winner, a Bond theme singer (The Man with the Golden Gun, 1974) and working with everyone from David Bowie, Tina Turner and Paul McCartney to Chaka Khan, Elton John and Take That.

Transcending generations, Lulu’s impressive career of global success includes releasing 1967’s biggest-selling record in the US, To Sir with Love, and being one of the first pop artists to perform behind the Iron Curtain.

Last year, she received the award for Best Supporting Actress at the National Film Awards for her role in movie Arthur’s Whisky, one of several acting credits.

Lulu launched her first ever podcast Turning Points in February, where she chats to famous faces – including John Legend, Boy George and Brian Cox – about the pivotal moments that have shaped their lives.

She’s also recently launched her own charitable fund, Lulu’s Mental Health Trust and, later this year, she’ll release a memoir.

Images: Martin Shields Photography