James DePreist facts for kids
James Anderson DePreist (born November 21, 1936 – died February 8, 2013) was an American conductor. He was one of the first African-American conductors to become famous around the world. At the time of his death, he was a director at The Juilliard School. He was also the honored music director of the Oregon Symphony.
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Early Life and Learning
James DePreist was born in Philadelphia in 1936. His aunt was the famous singer Marian Anderson. He went to Central High School in Philadelphia. He graduated in 1954.
DePreist studied music at the Philadelphia Conservatory. He also earned degrees from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. This was in 1958. While studying, he played drums in a jazz band. This band even appeared on "The Tonight Show" in 1956. He also wrote music and got his first chance to lead an orchestra.
His Career as a Conductor
In 1962, DePreist traveled to Asia for the U.S. government. He was an American music expert. While in Thailand, he was asked to conduct an orchestra. This moment made him realize he wanted to be a conductor.
Overcoming Challenges
During his trip, DePreist got poliomyelitis, a serious illness. But he got better. He then entered a big conducting contest. He won first prize in the Dimitri Mitropoulos International Conducting Competition.
Working with Famous Orchestras
After winning, Leonard Bernstein chose him. DePreist became an assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic. This was for the 1965–66 season. In 1969, he made his first big appearance in Europe. He conducted the Rotterdam Philharmonic. He then worked with many other European orchestras.
In 1971, he became an associate conductor. This was for the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.. From 1976 to 1983, he led the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec.
Leading the Oregon Symphony
In 1980, DePreist became the music director of the Oregon Symphony. He held this job for 23 years, until 2003. During his time, he made the Oregon Symphony much better. It went from a small group to a nationally known orchestra. They also made many recordings. People said his influence went beyond just music. He was the ninth music director for the symphony.
Other Conducting Roles
DePreist also led other orchestras. These included the Malmö Symphony Orchestra in Sweden. He also worked with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also an artistic advisor for the Pasadena Symphony.
As a guest conductor, he worked with almost every major orchestra in North America. This included the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also led orchestras in many cities worldwide. These cities included Helsinki, Rome, Sydney, and Tokyo.
DePreist made over 50 recordings. These included a series of Dmitri Shostakovich symphonies. He also made 15 recordings with the Oregon Symphony.
Awards and Honors
James DePreist received 15 honorary doctorates. These are special degrees given to honor someone's achievements. He was also chosen to be a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also joined the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
The Oregon Symphony named him their honored music director. He received several international awards. These included the Insignia of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland. He also got the Medal of the City of Québec. Monaco made him an officer of the Order of Cultural Merit.
In 2000, he received the Ditson Conductor's Award. This was for his dedication to American music. In 2005, President George W. Bush gave him the National Medal of Arts. This is the highest honor for artists in the United States.
In Popular Culture
DePreist was the main conductor for the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. While in Japan, his name was used in a Japanese manga and anime series. It was called Nodame Cantabile. In the story, he was the music director of a fictional orchestra. He hired the main character as a new conductor. DePreist also conducted the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra for the music in the anime and live-action show.
In 1987, DePreist helped with the theme song for The Cosby Show. He had been high school friends with Bill Cosby.
DePreist also appeared in a film called New Year's Day (1989 film). He played a character called "Lucy's shrink." The movie was released in 1989.
Personal Life and Passing
James DePreist was married to Ginette DePreist. He had two daughters, Tracy and Jennifer, from his first marriage.
In 2012, DePreist had a heart attack. He never fully recovered from it. He passed away on February 8, 2013, at age 76. He died in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is buried at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.
Images for kids
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DePreist's star along Portland's Main Street Walk of Stars, showing floral tributes on the day of his death
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See also
In Spanish: James DePreist para niños
