Seiji Ozawa honored at Kennedy Awards

Seiji Ozawa, 2nd from left in front, was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor,
the first Japanese/American to receive that honor.

CONDUCTOR Seiji Ozawa was honored with a Kennedy Center Award last Dec. 6. He was the first person from Japan to receive the prestigious award last Dec. 6 in Washington D.C. In fact, he is only the second Asian to receive the honor.

The 79-year old was joined by filmmaker George Lucas, singer-songwriter Carole King, actress/singer Rita Moreno, and actress Cicely Tyson as recipients of the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors. The honor recognizes their lifetime artistic achievements for their contribution to the arts over their careers.

“When I look at this year’s outstanding slate of Honorees, I am struck by a powerful common theme— artists as history-makers, artists who defy both convention and category,” said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter in a statement. “Each Honoree and their career-spanning achievements exemplify a rare quality of artistic bravery.”

“The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes the extraordinary and unparalleled talents of individuals whose impact and genius have left an indelible mark on civilization,” stated Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein. 

“Quite simply, our Honorees represent the voices, soundtracks, and stories of our personal lives and memories. Carole King’s heartfelt lyrics and tunes are woven throughout the tapestry of American music; George Lucas’ films have enriched our world with stories of epic adventure; Rita Moreno’s iconic spitfire roles are embedded in the heart of American culture; Seiji Ozawa’s artistic leadership as a conductor has set a new standard for orchestras around the world; and Cicely Tyson’s range of strong female roles on stage and screen have broken boundaries for women of color.”

Seiji Ozawa conducting the Boston Symphony.

Although born in China and raised in Japan, his daughter Siera said her father considers the U.S. to be his home because of the long time he has spent here.

Ozawa was born in Fenytien (now Shenjang), in the Manchurian province of Liaoning, China, during the Japanese occupation of that region. When war broke out, his Buddhist father and Presbyterian mother moved the family to Tokyo.

His mother's decision to raise her children as Christians brought Ozawa into early contact with Western church music. This contact was reinforced by his older brother, who became a church organist. From the start Ozawa gravitated toward Western music and only developed an interest in the traditional music of his homeland through association with cross-over composers such as Takemitsu, after his career was well established.

As a youngster attending school in Japan, Ozawa broke his fingers in a rugby game causing him to shift his emphasis from piano to conducting.

At one point in his career in the 1970s, he was the director of both the San Francisco Symphony and the Boston Symphony. In 1976 he had to drop his San Francisco gig because the bicoastal duties prove to be too taxing. He remained with the Boston Symphony for almost three decades during which he received many international awards.

He gained a reputation of being a bit of a rebel in the symphonic world that is steeped in tradition. He is an advocate of 20th century composers introducing several during his various conducting stints. He also broke from tradition by wearing a white turtleneck with his tuxedo instead of the traditional white shirt and bow tie.

The 38th Annual Kennedy Center awards show will be aired on CBS on Dec. 29 at 9/8c with performances by several artists as diverse as Yo-Yo Ma (the first  and only Asian/American to be awarded the honor) and Aretha Franklin. 

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