Rokus de Groot, Emeritus Professor of Musicology at the Faculty of Humanities, was awarded the Faculty Special Merit Award during an official ceremony held in the Aula on Friday, 25 May. Presenting the award to de Groot in honour of his retirement from the University, was Frank van Vree, dean of the Faculty of Humanities.

Speaking on behalf of the faculty management, Van Vree not only praised de Groot for his role as a ‘composer, historical musicologist, ethnomusicologist and executive musician’, but also for being a versatile individual and a true scholar of the humanities. According to the faculty management, de Groot had shown that musicology needn’t only be academic. Said the management: ‘In his teaching, the intimate relationship with music practice is a fundamental fact. Rokus de Groot continually emphasises that theoretical concepts cannot be detached from musical practice.’ Except for his teaching and research, de Groot was also given the award in recognition of his being an ‘inspiration and team leader’, and someone who innovatively harmonised the divergent currents within the field of musicology.