WASHINGTON, D.C. — President George W. Bush awarded the Mormon Tabernacle Choir the National Medal of Arts in a special ceremony held in the White House Nov. 12.
"It's long overdue," said President Bush, speaking of the choir's contribution to the arts as he presented the medallion to Mac Christensen, president of the choir, who accepted the honor on behalf of the organization.
The choir was one of 10 recipients to receive the annual honor in a special ceremony in the Oval Office. When the recipients entered the Oval Office, "the President asked us to look around the room," said President Christensen. "He pointed to the picture of Abraham Lincoln. 'That's my favorite,' he said. 'He kept the nation together in trying times.' "
President Christensen noted that President Bush was "peaceful . . . confident . . . and radiated goodness" and that his love for the choir was evident in the "twinkle in his eye."
"It's a great honor for the Church," he said.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were Craig Jessop, Tabernacle Choir music director; Mack Wilberg, associate director, John Longhurst, Tabernacle organist; Stan Parrish, assistant to the choir president, and Lloyd Newell, announcer for the choir's network program of Music and the Spoken Word.
From Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, President Gordon B. Hinckley issued a statement regarding the bestowal of the medal to the choir: "We accept this national honor with sincere gratitude. 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 congratulate them for this well-deserved recognition."
The National Medal of Arts is the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence. The medal, a bronze disc designed by sculptor Robert Graham, is awarded by the U.S. 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.
Other recipients this year are: Evan Andrew Smith, chairman of KLRU, a PBS station in Austin, Texas; country singer George Strait; National Symphony Orchestra conductor Leonard Slatkin; blues musician Buddy Guy; dancer, artistic director and arts educator Suzanne Farrell; children's book author Beverly Cleary; actor and director Ron Howard; arts educator and teacher Rafe Esquith; and Broadway director Tommy Tune.
