National Medal of Arts in Photos
UMS was selected as one of the 2014 recipients of the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest public artistic honor, awarded annually at the White House by the President of the United States to those who have “demonstrated a lifetime of creative excellence,” according to the National Endowment for the Arts, which oversees the selection process. In the photo above, UMS president Ken Fischer receives the award.
Explore other photos from the ceremony below, including photos of the UMS delegation, the other National Medal of Arts recipients, and President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
- United States President Barack Obama presents the National Medal of Arts to the University Musical Society of Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the photo above, UMS president Ken Fischer accepts the award on behalf of UMS.
- There were two National Medals of Arts awarded to institutions: UMS and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The representatives from each included (left to right), UMS Director of Programming Michael Kondziolka, DDCF Program Officer Cheryl Ikemia, DDCF President Ed Henry and his wife Susan Monk, UMS Board Chair Stephen Forrest, DDCF Program Officer Ben Cameron, UMS President Ken Fischer.
- U-M professor Emeritus and tenor George Shirley receives his medal from the president.
- George Shirley, his wife Gladys, and their two children with NEA Chair Jane Chu at the White House.
- Past UMS board chairs with medal at Hill Auditorium. Left to right: Bev Geitner, Norman Herbert, Steve Palms, Prue Rosenthal, David Herzig, and Ken Fischer.
- Left to right: Michael Kondziolka, Stephen Forrest, Ken Fischer.
- Awardees Ping Chong and Meredith Monk, both of whom appear on UMS’s 2016-17 season, outside the United States Institute of Peace, site of the Gala Dinner held on the eve of the White House ceremony.
- UMS President Ken Fischer with fellow awardee, actress Sally Field.
- UMS President Ken Fischer with U-M Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (left) and U.S. Congressional Representative from Ann Arbor Debbie Dingell at a special dinner following the White House ceremony.
- UMS President Ken Fischer with fellow awardee, author Stephen King.
- UMS President Ken Fischer at the White House with National Medal of Humanities recipient Alice Waters, chef, activist, restaurateur, and author.
- UMS President with fellow awardee George Shirley and U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance Dean Aaron Dworkin at the Gala Dinner at the United Stataes Institute of Peace on the eve of the White House ceremony.
- White House photo: UMS cohort.
- White House photo: Medalist cohort.
UMS Honored with National Medal of Arts
We are thrilled and honored to announce that the University Musical Society (UMS) has been selected as one of the 2014 recipients of the National Medal of Arts, announced by the White House today. The award will be presented on Thursday, September 10 at 3:45 pm at the White House. Read full press release.
The National Medal of Arts is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. The National Medal of Arts is awarded by the President of the United States to individuals or groups who “are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States.”
Said UMS president Ken Fischer: “We are simply ecstatic to be selected as a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. For over a century, UMS has had an uncompromising commitment to presenting a diverse roster of legendary artists, to developing students at the University of Michigan and beyond, and to commissioning new work that we hope will influence arts enthusiasts for decades to come. We are proud to join the legion of national arts luminaries who have inspired and served many generations of arts lovers — and we are proud of our community, whose unwavering support for the arts makes this work possible.”
Through an uncompromising commitment to presentation, education, and the creation of new work in the performing arts, the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan (UMS) serves Midwest audiences by bringing to the Ann Arbor campus and Southeast Michigan region an ongoing series of world- class artists, who represent the diverse spectrum of today’s vigorous and exciting worlds of live dance, theater, and music. UMS’s mission is to inspire individuals and enrich communities by connecting audiences and artists in uncommon and engaging experiences. Since its founding 137 years ago, strong leadership, coupled with outstanding venues, authentic artistic and community collaborations, dynamic education programs, and enduring commitment to excellence, has placed UMS in a league of internationally-recognized performing arts presenters.
In addition to UMS, other recipients of the 2014 National Medal of Arts are U-M Emeritus Professor and operatic tenor George Shirley (who has performed under UMS auspices five times since 1973), Meredith Monk (three UMS performances in 2000 and 2012 with the San Francisco Symphony), and Ping Chong (whose theater company performed Edda with Benjamin Bagby in 2001).
Want more award information? The award ceremony will take place next Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 3:45 pm at the White House and will be available via live stream.
Members of the media interested in more information about the program should contact Sara Billmann, UMS Director of Marketing & Communications, at sarabill@umich.edu. Read full press release.