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 The following event occurred in Juilliard's history in September:1999 September 21, the White House named The Juilliard School as a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, an honor awarded to "individuals or groups who in the President's judgment 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." Juilliard was the first performing arts educational institution to receive the medal since its establishment by Congress in 1984. The citation states: "This renowned conservatory has trained many of the world's most talented performers of music, dance, and drama. Through free performances and by bringing its works to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and schools, Juilliard has strived to make the arts accessible to all."
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| President Polisi accepts the National Medal of Arts from President William Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton. On the left, seated, is Irene Diamond. |
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September 29, President Joseph W. Polisi and Juilliard Chairman Mary Rodgers Guettel accepted the award on the School's behalf in a ceremony held in Constitution Hall. The evening's celebratory dinner featured a performance by violinist Midori (a Juilliard alumna) and pianist Robert McDonald (a Juilliard alumnus and faculty member). Other recipients of the 1999 National Medal of Arts were: arts patron Irene Diamond, singer Aretha Franklin, architect-designer Michael Graves, producer-writer-director Norman Lear, actress-producer Rosetta LeNoire, arts administrator Harvey Lichtenstein, singer Lydia Mendoza, folk singer Odetta, sculptor George Segal, and dancer Maria Tallchief.The sterling-silver medal, created by sculptor Robert Graham, is displayed near the library on the fifth floor of the Juilliard building, opposite Room 504.Jeni Dahmus is Juilliard's archivist.
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