On 17 December 2019, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) conferred upon Josep Pons the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa, the highest academic distinction awarded by the university. The honour recognised a career devoted to musical excellence, orchestral leadership and the international promotion of Catalan and Spanish culture.
Proposed by the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the nomination highlighted Josep Pons’s contribution to the artistic development of major orchestras, his work with the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Spanish National Orchestra, the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada and other leading institutions, as well as his commitment to contemporary music, the rediscovery of musical heritage and the promotion of new repertoire.
The investiture ceremony took place at the university in the presence of academic authorities, cultural representatives and distinguished figures from the musical world. During the ceremony, Josep Pons delivered his honorary lecture, “In Praise of Emotion”, reflecting on music as a form of knowledge, communication and humanistic education. He underlined the essential role of art and education in fostering critical thinking and cultural understanding.
The honorary doctorate became one of the most significant institutional recognitions of Josep Pons’s career, acknowledging not only his artistic achievements but also his contribution to the cultural, educational and musical life of Spain and Catalonia.