Internationally acclaimed drummer and composer Victor Lewis will be honored with an honorary doctorate at this year’s University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music Jazz Orchestra and Big Band concert. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in the Kimball Recital Hall.

Lewis was born in Omaha and started studying music at an early age. He began on the cello because he was too small for the acoustic bass, but switched to drums after a year and a half. He also studied classical piano, which is when he learned how to read music. As a music major at the University of Nebraska, Lewis studied classical percussion because the school had no jazz program. Still one of the busiest performers around, Lewis is also composing music for several upcoming recording projects. In 2003, he joined the faculty of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he teaches drummers and coaches jazz combos.

The Jazz Orchestra, directed by Paul Haar, is the university’s showcase jazz ensemble and one of the Korff School’s most visible performing groups. The University of Nebraska Big Band, directed by Jesse McBee, is a vital component of the university jazz curriculum.

A live webcast will be available the night of the performance.

This event is free and open to the public.

The concert is one of many Korff School performances during the week of Dec. 5-11. Other concerts are:

• Campus Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5, Kimball Recital Hall
• Symphonic Band, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, Kimball Recital Hall
• Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Kimball Recital Hall
• Musical Theater Showcase, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, Westbrook Music Building
• Big Red Singers and Vocal Jazz, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Kimball Recital Hall
• Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m. Dec. 11, Kimball Recital Hall
• Cornhusker Marching Band Highlights Concert, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Lied Center for Performing Arts

For more information on these and other School of Music events, click here.