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

[James DePreist conducts Oregon Symphony]

The New York Times

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.]

Philanthropy.com: “Within two years of DePreist's appointment, the Oregon Symphony was elevated to 'major' orchestra status.”

[The James DePreist Bust by Rip Caswell is on display at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, Oregon]

On February 24, 2011 The Chronicle of Philanthropy published a job announcement for Senior Vice President for Development. The announcement includes an overview of the history of the Oregon Symphony, including the period in which Maestro James DePreist was Music Director and Conductor, and enhanced the orchestra's standing:

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Senior Vice President for Development

Organization: Oregon Symphony

Posted: February 24, 2011

“A dramatic era in the history of the Oregon Symphony commenced in 1980, with the appointment of James DePreist as Music Director and Conductor. Within two years of DePreist's appointment, the Oregon Symphony was elevated to 'major' orchestra status. In September 1984, DePreist oversaw the Symphony's move from Portland Civic Auditorium to its current home, the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall within the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. The move allowed the orchestra to rehearse on the same stage as it performs, and, together with DePreist's leadership, resulted in a new level of concert activity, even greater service in the areas of education, community programs, and 15 recordings.” [AfriClassical.com profiles James DePreist (b. 1936), who also has his own website, http://www.JamesDePreist.com.]

The Oregonian: 'James DePreist makes it personal with the Oregon Symphony'

[The Firebird Suite; The Rite of Spring; Igor Stravinsky; James DePreist, Conductor; Delos DE 3278] 

OregonLive.com

Posted by David Stabler, The Oregonian

April 19, 2009

“James DePreist returned to the Oregon Symphony over the weekend with a musical program shot through with personal associations. The 72-year-old former music director of the orchestra - his title of laureate conductor expired last year - led three works at Schnitzer Hall: Christopher Theofanidis' 'Rainbow Body,' which he conducted in New York recently; Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto with pianist Garrick Ohlsson, a longtime colleague and friend of DePreist's; and the First Symphony of Jean Sibelius, a composer who greatly admired DePreist's aunt, the singer Marian Anderson.”

“DePreist and Ohlsson go back a long way. Since meeting in Helsinki years ago, they have developed a bond on stages around the world. At Saturday's performance of Beethoven's lyrical Fourth Piano Concerto, they shared the same spacious approach to the music.” “With minimalist movements from DePreist, we heard incisive and full-bodied playing in the surging music. Concertmaster Jun Iwasaki stepped up his role as string leader with vigorous and rhythmic assistance. Principal trumpet Jeffrey Work, principal trombone Aaron LaVere and their sections superimposed color and clout on the performance.” [James DePreist (b. 1936) is profiled at AfriClassical.com] 

James DePreist Bust by Rip Caswell Was Sponsored by Friends and Supporters

[James DePreist Bust, by Rip Caswell, Sculptor]

Photo of bust. Size and Number: Mid-Size; One of a kind. Dimensions: 24x17x11 inches. Price: Not Available for Purchase. Sponsored by friends and supporters of Maestro James DePreist. The Home page of Rip Caswell's website is http://www.RipCaswell.tv/ It reads: “The surprise is not simply the beauty of the piece. The surprise is the life he coaxes from this elemental metal.”

The African American conductor James DePreist is the nephew of the great singer Marian Anderson. His biography at http://www.JamesDePreist.com explains that he is the Permanent Conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Laureate Music Director of the Oregon Symphony, and Director of Conducting and Orchestral Studies at the Juilliard School. He is also profiled at AfriClassical.com. Maestro DePreist has previously led L'Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, the Malmo Symphony in Sweden, and L'Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo. Maestro DePreist was awarded the 2000 Ditson Conductor's Award by Columbia University. He was a 2005 winner of the National Medal of Arts for his contribution to American musical life as a distinguished conductor. He has also published two books of poetry, “This Precipice Garden” and “The Distant Siren”, which has a foreword by Maya Angelou.