The conductor James DePreist died today at 76. He overcame two substantial barriers to have an enormous career. He was African-American and conducted from a wheelchair as a result of polio which he contracted in 1962. DePreist had music directorships in Monaco, Oregon, and was dean emeritus of conducting at the Julliard School. There was not a major symphony orchestra in the United States not conducted by James DePreist. He was a regular at Tanglewood and the Boston Symphony. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IUK3CQmcIo The nephew of the great contralto Marian Anderson, DePreist conducted his aunt's final performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1965. Any charge of nepotism fades in the face of a 40 year successful career. Many conductors have a favorite area of music. DePreist excelled at the big works — Mahler and Shostakovich especially. Ginger Rogers may have danced backwards in high heels, but DePreist conducted from a wheelchair and never went out of fashion.
Christopher Purdy is Classical 101's early morning host, 7-10 a.m. weekdays. He is host and producer of Front Row Center – Classical 101’s weekly celebration of Opera and more – as well as Music in Mid-Ohio, Concerts at Ohio State, and the Columbus Symphony broadcast series. He is the regular pre-concert speaker for Columbus Symphony performances in the Ohio Theater.