The Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Wednesday received the nation's highest award for artistic excellence — the National Medal of the Arts.
President George W. Bush awarded the Mormon Tabernacle Choir the medal in a special ceremony held in the White House Wednesday. Nine other individuals and organizations were also recognized, ranging from country music star George Strait and the public television series "Austin City Limits" to classical music conductor Leonard Slatkin and Academy Award-winning movie director Ron Howard, who is also a former TV star.
"We congratulate the choir on this significant national honor," said President Gordon B. Hinckley of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a prepared statement.
"The secret of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is that its 360 members sing from their hearts. They are wonderful. They are all volunteers who have achieved excellence through their hard work, their faith, and their deep devotion. We are grateful for this well-deserved recognition on their tremendous efforts," he said.
The choir originated in the mid-19th century as the first pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. Since then, the choir has become world-renowned through its many recordings, tours and weekly TV and the radio broadcast, "Music and the Spoken Word," the longest-running continuous network radio broadcast in the world.
Choir President Mac Christensen accepted the honor at the White House on behalf of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Craig Jessop, music director; Mack Wilberg, associate director; John Longhurst, Tabernacle organist; Stan Parrish, assistant to the choir president; and Lloyd Newell, announcer for "Music and the Spoken Word," also attended the ceremony.
"This is just an incredible recognition of the choir's long history and service to the nation," Jessop said.
He said President Bush indicated that it was a long overdue award, because of the choir's cultural and spiritual achievements.
Where will the choir go from this high honor?
"The choir will continue to do what it's always done," Jessop said — meaning another "Music and the Spoken Word" broadcast on Sunday. "That's what we do best."
The National Medal of Arts, a bronze disc designed by sculptor Robert Graham, is awarded annually by the president to individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the creation, support and growth of the arts in the United States.
Established in 1984, the medal has been presented to more than 200 distinguished artists, organizations and patrons.
Past winners of the National Medal of Arts Award include such Utahns as Utah Symphony conductor Maurice Abravanel and businessman/philanthropist Obert C. Tanner, as well as nationally known musicians as Yo-Yo Ma, Barbra Streisand and Frederica von Stade; actor/entertainers like Bob Hope, Kirk Douglas and Gregory Peck, and writers like Maya Angelou and others.
Besides the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, this year's honorees are:
Strait, who has had dozens of No. 1 chart hits.
Slatkin, the conductor of the Washington-based National Symphony Orchestra, who last year was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.
Blues guitarist and Chicago club owner Buddy Guy.
"Austin City Limits," the television program that began in 1975 and airs on public television stations nationwide.
Howard, once known for his television acting as Opie Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show" and Richie Cunningham on "Happy Days." He went on to success as a film director of "Cocoon," "Apollo 13," and "Parenthood." Last year, Howard won an Oscar for directing "A Beautiful Mind."
Director-choreographer-dancer Tommy Tune, a nine-time Tony Award winner who is the only person to win the award in four categories: best choreography, best direction of a musical, best lead actor in a musical and best featured actor in a musical.
Children's book author Beverly Cleary.
Dancer Suzanne Farrell.
And fifth-grade teacher and arts educator Rafe Esquith of Los Angeles.
E-MAIL: lynn@desnews.com
Contributing: Associated Press