The Cosmos Club is delighted to honor one of its own members, the distinguished musician Richard Bales, now in his 42nd year as Director of Music at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C. Entirely American trained, Mr. Bales is a master composer, an authoritative conductor, the creative director of a unique concert series in the nation’s capital, and a popular lecturer and radio commentator.
Though he has conducted many other ensembles, including the National Symphony, Bales is chiefly known for producing more than 1, 700 concerts to date, many as conductor of the National Gallery Orchestra which he has developed into a major institution; for creating the most significant annual American Music Festival in the nation, currently in its 42nd season; for composing luminous music in many forms, both vocal and instrumental, including several film scores; for rediscovering, arranging and embellishing a vast amount of 18th and 19th century American music; and for fostering the careers of hundreds of young artists that he has presented.
Mr. Bales’ versatility conducting music from pre-classical to the latest experimental is legendary, and he has presented a great number of world, American and Washington premieres of music both new and old. His concerts in the Gallery’s East Garden Court have been attended by hundreds of thousands from across the nation and around the world; live broadcasts and telecasts that feature his illuminating program commentaries have reached millions. His most important works include four National Gallery Suites and the three patriotic cantatas that established him as the foremost American music historian: “The Confederacy” and “The Union” distill the musical heritage of both sides in the Civil War era; his stir- ring celebration of the American Revolution, “The Republic,” is traditionally performed for all presidential inaugurations.
We are proud to add the Cosmos Club Award to the many distinctions already accorded to the great American musician Richard Bales.
