DePauw alumnus Judson Green ’74, the former president and CEO of NAVTEQ Corporation, will be returning to campus with his band, Eighth Element this Thursday.
The day will consist of two major events in which the students will be able to learn from and listen to the man who has emulated success throughout his life.
The first event will take place at 11:30 a.m. in Thompson Recital Hall. where Green will be hosting an open workshop called Life Lessons Learned through Jazz.
Born in Quincy, Illinois, Green began studying piano at the age of four and aspired and trained through his college years to become a professional musician. However, as often occurs, his journey took a different path. He graduated from DePauw with a degree in economics and went on to receive an MBA degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Green will be discussing using jazz as a platform to entertain and teach lessons on leadership, creativity and change. Green made his way from being a DePauw student to becoming a wildly successful international business leader.
After the discussion, DePauw University and the Greencastle community will have the opportunity to attend “The Ultimate Green Concert.”
Judson and Joyce T. Green ’75 are sponsor the Green Guest Artist Concert Series and are credited with funding the Green Center for Performing Arts. Previous Green Guest Artists Concerts include performances such as Sweet Honey in the Rock, Bobby McFerrin, Voces 8 and many more artists who have lit up the stage at DePauw.
Green's own concert with Eighth Element will being at 7:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium and will be followed by an opportunity to purchase one of the four CDs that Green has produced: "Morning Light," "It’s Just Me," Jazmin and, most recently, "Mojito."
“The sounds that emanate from a musician are but the tip of the iceberg," wrote Yo-Yo Ma. “Such is the case with jazz musician Judson Green. The music that flows out of him cannot be separated from the inspiration behind it: love for family and the environment. Nor can the brilliant mind that loves to solve complex problems be separated from his dedication to helping young people find a path in music—all of which are inspired by the fundamental principles he found through playing jazz.”