James Conlon accepts Medal of the American Liszt Society

On Friday afternoon, May 30, 2008 at 5:00 pm, conductor James Conlon, Music Director of the Los Angeles Opera and Cincinnati May Festival, was awarded the Medal of the American Liszt Society. The ceremony took place in Coolidge Auditorium of the Jefferson Building at the United States Library of Congress on the first day of the American Liszt Society's three-day annual festival.

"The American Liszt Society is pleased to present this award to an individual whose interest in and commitment to the interaction and relationship of the arts so resembles the all embracing spirit of Liszt. The theme of this year's festival, "Liszt, Literature and Painting," explored this same spirit," stated Dr. Thomas Mastroianni, President of the American Liszt Society.

Conlon remarked that he was exceedingly pleased and honored to have been chosen to receive the medal. His acceptance speech, presented via DVD, was recorded in Florence, Italy, where he was rehearsing Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Italy's famous May Festival. Jennifer Ringo, the highly regarded American soprano and wife of the acclaimed conductor, accepted the medal on behalf of her husband.

The Medal of the American Liszt Society (engraved and die struck in solid silver) is awarded to an individual who has achieved international distinction in performance, writing, and/or scholarship. Outstanding administrators and teachers are also considered. Recipients must be particularly associated with Franz Liszt. Some past recipients include Claudio Arrau, Jorge Bolet, Alfred Brendel, Maria Eckhardt, Klara Hamburger, Maurice Hinson, Fernando Laires, and Alan Walker.

2008 CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Thanks to all who made the 2008 ALS Conference in Washington such a great success!! Be watching this website for details as they develop concerning the 2008 Great Romantics Festival in October 2008, hosted by Dr. Alan Walker, and the ALS Conference in April 2009 at the University of Kansas, hosted by Dr. Steven Spooner.