Subdivision
| • | 501. Creative Artists | [X] |
| | | Name: | Ms. Marin Alsop | | | Institution: | Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Vienna Radio Orchestra, Ravinia Festival; Peabody Institute, Johns Hopkins University; Vienna Radio Orchestra, Ravinia Festival; São Paulo Symphony | | | Year Elected: | 2020 | | | Class: | 5. The Arts, Professions, and Leaders in Public & Private Affairs | | | Subdivision: | 501. Creative Artists | | | Residency: | resident | | | Living? : |
Living
| | | Birth Date: | 1956 | | | | | | |
Marin Alsop is an inspiring and powerful voice, a conductor of vision and distinction who passionately believes that "music has the power to change lives". She is recognised internationally for her innovative approach to programming and audience development, for her deep commitment to education and advocating for music’s importance in the world.
From the 2019/20 season, Alsop becomes Chief Conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (Vienna RSO), performing in their main series at the Wiener Konzerthaus and Wiener Musikverein, recording, broadcasting, and touring nationally and internationally. Her first season coincides with the Orchestra’s 50th anniversary and will emphasize women in classical music.
Her outstanding success as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) since 2007 has resulted in two extensions in her tenure until 2021. Alsop has led the orchestra on its first European tour in 13 years and created several bold initiatives including OrchKids, for the city’s most disadvantaged young people. At the end of 2019, following a seven-year tenure as Music Director, she becomes Conductor of Honour of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP), where she will return to conduct major projects each season.
Marin Alsop was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 2020. | |
| | Name: | Professor André Watts | | | Institution: | Indiana University | | | Year Elected: | 2020 | | | Class: | 5. The Arts, Professions, and Leaders in Public & Private Affairs | | | Subdivision: | 501. Creative Artists | | | Residency: | resident | | | Living? : |
Deceased
| | | Birth Date: | 1946 | | | Death Date: | July 12, 2023 | | | | | | |
André Watts is currently Jack I. and Dora B. Hamlin Endowed Chair in Music and Distinguished Professor of Music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He has been a professional pianist since 1963, having later earned a B.M. from the Peabody Institute from 1972.
André Watts is one of the greatest living American classical pianists, and the first internationally famous Black concert pianist. Watts was a prodigy when he started playing with the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 9, and at age 16 he won a competition to play in Bernstein's televised Young People's Concert with the New York Philharmonic. Watts was later called in by Bernstein as a replacement for a sick pianist and Watts's resulting solo performance on New Year's Day in 1963 was enrapturing, inspiring immediate worldwide acclaim. This was followed by his first album, The Exciting Debut of André Watts, and a Grammy Award for most promising new classical music artist. In 1976, he made history with PBS's Live From Lincoln Center program by playing the first fully televised piano recital. Watts has recorded a number of albums over the years, providing interpretations of Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, and Liszt, among others.
Watts won a Grammy Award in 1964, the Avery Fisher Prize in 1988, the George Peabody Medal in 1990, and received the National Medal of Arts in 2011. He's performed all over the world, and notably performed the following: Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat at Young People’s Concert, 1963; New York Philharmonics Liszt E-flat Concerto, 1963; Great Performer Series at Avery Fisher Hall, 1976; 38th Casals Festival performance, 1995; 100th Anniversary Gala, Philadelphia Orchestra, 2013. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. André Watts was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 2020. | |
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