Distinguished musicians

Cramer

Pressler

Robinson

The English 12-year-old who studied with Don Freund and soprano Twyla Robinson, a student of Costanza Cuccaro, who won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in New York City last month, are among a number of musicians to bring honor to the school this season.

Pianist Menahem Pressler, IU Distinguished Professor of music, is scheduled to receive the Gold Medal of Merit from the National Society of Arts and Letters next week. Pressler, who has taught at the IU School of Music for nearly 50 years, will be recognized for a “long and distinguished career not only as an internationally recognized concert artist but also a teacher and mentor of young artists.” Previous winners have included Mikhail Baryshnikov, Louise Nevelson, Jose Ferrer, Mstislav Rostropovich and Marilyn Horne.

David Baker, chair of the Department of Jazz Studies and IU Distinguished Professor of music, has received the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal in recognition of his 15 years of service to the Smithsonian Institution. He is the artistic and musical director of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

Ray Cramer, director of bands, is the recipient of the Edwin Franko Goldman Award from the American School Band Directors Association.

Read (and hear) more about Bliss in the February issue of Indiana Alumni magazine:

http://www.indiana.edu/~alumni/magtalk/jan-feb02/bliss.html