Role

:

Conductor

Birth

:

November 21, 1936 in Philadelphia, PA

Death

:

February 8, 2013

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

James DePreist was an American conductor and composer who was born on November 21, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the nephew of the famous contralto Marian Anderson, who was a significant influence on his musical career. DePreist began his musical training at the age of eight, studying piano with his mother and later with Irma Wolpe, a student of Artur Schnabel. He also studied composition with Vincent Persichetti at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music. DePreist's career as a conductor began in 1962 when he won the Dimitri Mitropoulos International Conducting Competition. He went on to conduct many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also the music director of the Oregon Symphony from 1980 to 2003, where he transformed the orchestra into a world-class ensemble. One of DePreist's most significant achievements was his work with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He was the orchestra's principal conductor from 1996 to 2007 and helped to raise its profile on the international stage. He also conducted the orchestra on several tours, including a tour of the United States in 2000. DePreist was known for his interpretations of the works of African-American composers, including William Grant Still, George Walker, and Duke Ellington. He was also a composer himself, with works including "Dances and Variations for Piano and Orchestra" and "Freedom Overture." Throughout his career, DePreist received numerous awards and honors. In 2005, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush, the highest honor given to artists by the United States government. He was also a recipient of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for his book "Conducting Beethoven." In 2007, he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. DePreist's career was cut short by illness, and he died on February 8, 2013, at the age of 76. He left behind a legacy as one of the most respected and influential conductors of his generation. His dedication to music and his commitment to excellence inspired countless musicians and audiences around the world.

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