University Musical Society Received National Medal of Arts

Join us in congratulating long-time ISPA member organization Musical Society (UMS) on receiving a the National Medal of Arts. Below is a snippet of the news announcement distributed by UMS. To view the full news announcement, visit UMS' website.

ANN ARBOR, MI—The University Musical Society of the University of Michigan and George Shirley, emeritus professor at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance, will each receive a 2014 National Medal of Arts, the White House has announced.

Both are among 11 recipients of the nation's highest public artistic honor, awarded annually by the president of the United States at the White House to those who have "demonstrated a lifetime of creative excellence," according to the National Endowment for the Arts, which oversees the selection process.

"I applaud Professor Shirley and everyone at the UMS for achieving recognition at the highest level," said U-M President Mark Schlissel. "The medals recognize the University of Michigan's immense contributions to cultural appreciation, as well as our spectacular legacy in arts education and presentation. We take great pride in the arts and cultural opportunities we cultivate at the University."