Monday, March 28, 2011

NYTimes.com: Maestro James DePreist 'has led a career of quiet, consistent distinction' since 1964 conducting prize

[James DePreist conducts Oregon Symphony]

Music in Review
By STEVE SMITH
Published: March 28, 2011
JUILLIARD ORCHESTRA
Blog
"Avery Fisher Hall
James DePreist, the director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School since 2004, has led a career of quiet, consistent distinction from the time he won the Dimitri Mitropoulos International Music Competition for Conductors in 1964, including a noteworthy tenure of more than two decades as music director of the Oregon Symphony. In a development that made headlines in January, Mr. DePreist will cede his Juilliard post to Alan Gilbert, the New York Philharmonic music director, in September.

"But it is welcome news that Mr. DePreist — who is now 74 and uses a motorized wheelchair because he contracted polio during a 1962 State Department engagement in Bangkok — will stay on at Juilliard as the director emeritus and principal conductor. His estimable connection to student players was underscored during a concert he gave with the Juilliard Orchestra on Friday evening." [AfriClassical.com profiles James DePreist (b. 1936), who also has his own website, http://www.JamesDePreist.com.]

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