Two Juilliard faculty members—James DePreist, the director of orchestral studies and conducting at Juilliard, as well as music director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and former music director of the Oregon Symphony; and Wynton Marsalis, a trumpet faculty member who also directs Jazz at Lincoln Center—were among the 10 recipients of the 2005 National Medal of Arts. After being notified of their selection by the National Endowment for the Arts, they were presented with the medals by President Bush in a ceremony at the White House on November 10.

James DePreist, director of conducting and orchestral studies, is greeted by President George W. Bush and Laura Bush at the White House for the presentation of the National Medal of Arts in November. (Photo by Eric Draper, courtesy of the White House)

The National Medal of Arts, established by Congress in 1984, is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. It is awarded by the president to those who have made extraordinary contributions to the creation, growth, and support of the arts in the United States. Each year, the N.E.A. seeks nominations from individuals and organizations across the country. The National Council on the Arts, the N.E.A.'s presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed advisory body, reviews the nominations and provides recommendations to the president, who selects the recipients.

According to a November 9 article in The Oregonian, Mr. DePreist was in Portland in late October to conduct the Oregon Symphony when he learned that he would be receiving the award, but he had to keep it quiet until it was officially announced by the White House. He said that the medal means even more to him because his late aunt, the great contralto Marian Anderson, received the same honor in 1986.

Wynton Marsalis (right), one of the recipients of the 2005 National Medal of Arts, with Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. (Photo courtesy of the National Endowment for the Arts)

"It's important, anyway," he told the newspaper, "but because of that connection, it means a tremendous amount."

The chairman of the N.E.A., Dana Gioia, said: "These individuals and organizations have all made significant and enduring contributions to the artistic life of our nation. Whether through pioneering film animation, writing memorable novels, championing jazz, or creating new dance styles, their work has transformed the ways we experience and appreciate the world."

During the past 20 years, more than 200 extraordinary patrons and artists in the fields of visual, performing, and literary arts have been honored—including a number of Juilliard faculty members and alumni. The Juilliard School itself was honored with the medal in 1999.