Acclaimed Music Publicist Yvette Noel-Schure Receives Honorary Degree at Berklee Valencia

Berklee Valencia’s interim Executive Director Simone Pilon presented an honorary Doctor of Music degree to self-made entrepreneur and highly regarded music publicist Yvette Noel-Schure on July 10 at the commencement ceremony for the master’s degree programs at Berklee’s campus in Valencia, Spain. 

Internationally known for her work with artists such as Beyoncé, Prince, John Legend, and Chloe x Halle, among many others, Noel-Schure was recognized for her extraordinary career accomplishments, her dedication to the music industry on a global scale, and her work to promote multicultural diversity and inclusiveness for future generations.

“Class of 2023, I believe in you and your power and potential. My biggest lesson for you today is that nothing works without love. I want you to love boldly, fiercely, urgently,” said Noel-Schure when addressing the graduating class. “Use your art to say something, to do something, to make a difference, to change the world. Be the ones who shake things up. Cause a ripple effect that brings about systemic and monumental change.” 

Noel-Schure serves as the chief communications officer of Schure Media Group, her own publicity and event planning agency, which she cofounded with her husband, David Schure, in 2010. The agency represents clients and artists such as Beyoncé, Tina Knowles Lawson, Kelly Rowland, Dixson, Buju Banton, Michelle Williams, Teeks, Chloe x Halle, and Tan France. She is also the primary publicist for Parkwood Entertainment, a production, management, and entertainment company founded by Beyoncé. 

Beyond her illustrious career, Noel-Schure is known for her social activism. She is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry, and has worked extensively to promote the rights of women and people of color. She has led successful social campaigns with different organizations including the United Nations and Gucci’s Changemakers board and works closely with BeyGOOD and UNICEF to create programs to positively impact people around the globe. Additionally, as an immigrant from Grenada, she frequently gives back to her home country, and throughout the West Indies, and is a tourism ambassador for the island. 

Pilon praised Noel-Schure, addressing her following the conferral of the honorary degree, saying, “Your career, professionalism, and commitment to the greater community, as well as the support you have shown Berklee Valencia, are an inspiration to us all. We are honored to have you officially join the Berklee family.” 

Noel-Schure has shown a deep commitment to the Berklee Valencia campus, where she has been a guest lecturer since 2015 and has served as a mentor for Berklee’s Outstanding Women Scholarship program since 2018. She received Berklee’s Master of Global Entertainment Award in 2019, and holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Saint Peter’s University in New Jersey. 

At the commencement ceremony, 136 graduates from 39 countries received Master of Music degrees in contemporary performance (production concentration); music production, technology, and innovation; and scoring for film, television, and video games; and Master of Arts degrees in global entertainment and music business. Students who completed Berklee’s post-master’s program were also recognized at the ceremony. 

Berklee’s honorary doctorate recipients are recognized for their achievements and influences in music, and for their enduring contributions to American and international culture. Past recipients include Duke Ellington (the first, in 1971), Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson, Steven Tyler, Loretta Lynn, Juan Luis Guerra, Annie Lennox, Paco de Lucia, Carole King, Willie Nelson, George Clinton, Rita Moreno, Lionel Richie, A. R. Rahman, Justin Timberlake, and Missy Elliott. In the last five years the Valencia campus has awarded honorary doctorates to Al Di Meola, Imogen Heap, Lila Downs, Gilberto Gil, and Alberto Iglesias.