The National Arts Club



	CHAIRMAN: Daniel Schiffman, Esq. MEMBERS: Martin Bookspan, Mary Cava, Fran Dance, Ina Dittke, Laurelyn Douglas, Esq., Jon Faddis, Pauline Gilbert Bader, Elise Lumley, James Moody, Linda Moody, Roger Wight, Linda Zagaria METROPOLITAN OPERA BOX 19 ADMINISTRATOR: Craig Schmitterer CONTACT: music@thenationalartsclub.org


Mission:



	In addition to regularly producing well-attended educational programming, providing performance opportunities to emerging artists and established artists for works-in-progress, and recommending recipients of the long-established and highly prestigious Medals of Honor for Music to the Board of Governors, the Music Committee is available to all other NAC committees for advice and consultation, and often acts as co-sponsor of multi-discipline programs. The Committee's scholarship programs are on temporary hiatus, with the expectation that the highly respected Tilden Prize for Instrumental Music and National Arts Club Vocal Music Prize will be restored in the near future.

	The Tilden Prize:
		While this program is temporarily suspended, it is remembered as a highly regarded biennial competitive scholarship program which awarded a total of $8,500 to instrumental students. A different instrument was selected for each program year, with a view toward assisting students who did not have a wide range of scholarship opportunities. The recognition of the program is evident from the notable artists who have participated as Music Director and Chair of the Jury, such as Fred Sherry, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Richard Stoltzman, Joseph Alessi, and Joseph Robinson.

	The National Arts Club Prize for Vocal Music:
		While this program is temporarily suspended, it is remembered as a highly regarded biennial competitive scholarship program which awarded a total of $8,500 to instrumental students. A different instrument was selected for each program year, with a view toward assisting students who did not have a wide range of scholarship opportunities. The recognition of the program is evident from the notable artists who have participated as Music Director and Chair of the Jury, such as Fred Sherry, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Richard Stoltzman, Joseph Alessi, and Joseph Robinson.

	Performing opportunities with a purpose:
		Because there are many activities conducted by The Club's committees, access to appropriate performance space within the clubhouse is limited. The Music Committee tries to utilize its limited access for assistance to musicians in the form of run-out performances, debuts of new works, introductions of notable recordings, and incentives to the patrons and supporters of performing organizations, such as The New York Youth Symphony. "Sorceror and Apprentice," a program series which couples outstanding artists with their proteges is a favored program which was in hiatus for several years and was recently reinstated. Some NAC music programs are recorded for broadcast on Public Radio and other appropriate media. We hope to share that opportunity with other NAC committees. We are proud of having incubated many composers and performers. For example, the earliest performances of "Bang on A Can" now resident at Lincoln Center, were heard in our Grand Gallery.The Music Committee's expertise is available to all other NAC committees as requested. As among all well-oiled artistic groups, such advice is not always sought, nor always followed when it is sought. The foregoing is a legal disclaimer for programs which members do not like.

	Metropolitan Opera Box
		Since 1937, the National Arts Club has purchased subscriptions to a Metropolitan Opera Box for resale to NAC members and their guests at cost. Currently, The Club occupies Parterre Box 19 for the Thursday 2 and 3 series. Listings of available tickets are distributed to Club members on a regular basis with the Vice-Chair's contact information, which is available on the Member’s version of this website. Few, if any, tickets remain unsold. Current Club policy is to distribute any unsold tickets to young musicians who have participated in NAC Music scholarship programs and outstanding teachers.

Awards:

There are no rigid rules for selection of musical honorees. Medals may reflect accomplishment in any field of Music and any form of artistry, as well as occasional recognition of philanthropy and support. The list of Honorees is impressive, and a "mixed bag." Music Award dinners are not used for fund-raising, and ask nothing of the honoree in return. Experienced Club members anticipate unpredictable musical experiences; rarely exactly as announced. It is not uncommon for guests and honorees to become inspired to perform by NAC’s selfless promotion of the arts, and its collegial and welcoming atmosphere.

Other committees, particularly Theater/Drama, Film and Literary, often have similar experiences at their award dinners.The Music Committee often joins with other committees and club members to enhance the diversity of artistic expression and inclusiveness which are NAC's hallmarks. Joint award recipients are not included in the Music Committee’s list of honorees on this page.

Among many such events, the Music Committee and NAC Opera Box' Administration recognized Anthony Amato and the Amato Opera for presenting popularly-priced performances of the opera classics. Diva and philanthropist Licia Albanese and Conductor Eve Queller were similarly recognized for their singular contributions to the Operatic World.

Daniel Schiffman, Chair of the Music Committee, speaking at the Medalof Honor
for the Juilliard String Quartet

Among the 60 or so others who honored our club by accepting
our Medal of Honor for Music since 1957 were:

2009 Mr. Paquito D' Rivera
2008 Mr. James Moody
2007 Mr. Lorin Maazel / Mr. Joshua Bell / Mr. Ornette Coleman
2006 Ms. Marilyn Horne / Ms. Barbara Carroll
2005 Mr. Joseph Volpe / /Ms. Marian McPartland
2004 The Juiliard String Quartet / Dr. Billy Taylor
2003 Sir James Galway /Mr. Dave Brubeck
2002 Mr. John Corigliano / Mr. Jon Faddis
2001 Ms. Roberta Peters
2000 Mr. Daniel Barenboim
1999 Mr. Emanuel Ax / Mr. Benny Carter
1998 Mr. Robert Merrill / Sir George Shearing OBE
1997 Mr. André Previn
1996 Mr. Kurt Masur
1995 Mr. James D. Wolfensohn
1994 Mr. Itzhak Perlman
1993 Mr. Placido Domingo
1992 Mr. James Levine
1991 Mr. Gian Carlo Menotti / Mr. Dick Hyman
1990 Mr. Zubin Mehta
1989 Miss Marian Anderson
1988 Mr. Isaac Stern
1987 Mr. Gerard R. Schwarz / Mr. Benny Goodman
1986 Ms. Frederica von Stade
1985 Mr. Morton Gould
1984 Mr. Martin Bookspan
1983 Mr. Schuyler G. Chapin
1982 Mr. Amyas Ames and the New York Philharmonic
1981 Mr. Gunther Schuller
1980 Mr. Charles Wadsworth
1979 Mr. Robert Sherman
1978 Mr. Avery Fisher
1977 Mr. Arthur Fiedler
1976 Mr. Jack Beeson
1975 Miss Alice Tully
1974 Mr. Van Cliburn
1973 Sir Rudolf Bing
1972 Mr. Edward Cramer, BMI
1971 Mrs. Jouett Shouse
1971 Dr. George F. Seuffert
1970 Dr. Peter Mennin
1969 Mr. Richard Rodgers
1968 Mr. Leonard Bernstein
1967 Mrs. Clifton J. Muir, NFMC
1966 Mrs. Lytle Hull
1966 Mr. Richard Korn
1965 Mr. Stanley Adams, ASCAP
1964 Dr. William Schuman
1963 Mr. Paul Creston
1963 Mme. Olga Koussevitsky
1962 Dr. Howard Hanson
1961 Mrs. August Belmont
1960 Mr. Thomas Scherman
1959 Mrs. Minnie Guggenheimer
1958 Mr. Julius Rudel
1957 Dr. Herman Neumann

	Support & Promotion
		2005 NPR Radio Station WBGO 2003 George Wein 1995 JVC Company 1986 Radio Station WQXR