MARIAN ANDERSON AWARD TO HONOR MIA FARROW
Award Gala with The Philadelphia Orchestra / May 10, 2011

(PHILADELPHIA, PA – April 29, 2011) –Mia Farrow – actress, humanitarian, and activist– will receive the 2011 Marian Anderson Award. Ms. Farrow will accept the award at a Gala Concert produced in partnership with The Philadelphia Orchestra, which will take place on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Since 1998, this award has celebrated Marian Anderson’s spirit by honoring artists who, like her, have changed and enriched our world. This years’ celebration will mark a milestone at the annual Gala Dinner and Concert.

As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Mia Farrow has made 13 trips to Darfur and the Sudan since 2004. She was one of the first people to alert the world about the crisis in that region. Since then, she has remained fully engaged in humanitarian efforts both in Africa and also in Haiti. In a recent announcement about the Gala, Mayor Michael Nutter called Mia Farrow one of the most committed activists in the world. This year’s Gala is an opportunity to thank her for her personal philanthropy and investment in vulnerable populations in the world.

The Award Gala will feature exciting stars that are coming together to help honor Mia Farrow. American dance legend Judith Jamison will host this special evening. American pop music icon Carly Simon, and critically acclaimed opera star Angela Brown will perform with The Philadelphia Orchestra. This year’s Best New Artist Grammy winner, Esperanza Spalding will also perform in a special tribute.

In commenting on her decision to accept the Marian Anderson Award, Mia Farrow stated that, ”I am deeply honored to accept this prestigious award, and I do so in the name of the many men, women and children I have met throughout my travels-- the world’s most vulnerable and neglected people. They embody the spirit of Ms. Anderson herself: tremendous courage, resilience and humanity while facing unspeakable adversities.”

Pamela Browner White, Chair of the Marian Anderson Award, spoke about the Award: ”The selection process is extremely difficult as the artists we honor are rare. They are men and women who combine great creativity with great generosity, great leadership and, in the case of this year’s honoree Mia Farrow, great courage. Her years of humanitarian work in countries such as Darfur, Sudan, Chad and Haiti demonstrate a singular commitment to those in great need. It is our hope that through this year’s Award that we can support her important work and that we can draw attention to the efforts she has undertaken on behalf of so many.”

Browner White went on to say, ”Part of our work is to encourage young men and women facing adversity to follow their dreams inspired by people like Marian Anderson and our honorees. Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Richard Gere, Oprah, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis… these are giants of our culture. It is truly an honor that Mia Farrow will join them as the 2011 Marian Anderson Award recipient.”

MARIAN ANDERSON AWARD

The Marian Anderson Award honors artists whose leadership on behalf of a humanitarian cause(s) or issue benefits society. Previous recipients include Bill Cosby (2010) Maya Angelou and Norman Lear (2008), Richard Gere (2007), Sidney Poitier (2006), Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis (2005), Oprah Winfrey (2003), Danny Glover (2002), Quincy Jones (2001), Elizabeth Taylor (2000), Gregory Peck (1999), and Harry Belafonte, (1998). No Award was given in 2004 or 2009. Created in 1998, the Award is named for the great Philadelphian and American singer Marian Anderson, and is produced and administered under the direction of J. Patrick Moran. Since its inception, the Award program has provided more than $500,000 in free public programs, residencies, commissions, and grants to young artists.

This year’s Gala Performance will be preceded by the annual black-tie Gala Dinner, at the Kimmel Center, which is a fundraiser for the Marian Anderson Award and its grant programs that support young artists. Those interested in attending the Gala Dinner, which includes a premium ticket to the Gala Performance, can call the Marian Anderson Award office at 215-893-1837. Single tickets for the Gala Performance are on sale and are available by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1999 or by visiting The Philadelphia Orchestra’s website at www.philorch.org.

MARIAN ANDERSON

Marian Anderson, the most celebrated contralto of the 20th century, was born in Philadelphia on February 27, 1897, to an African-American family of modest means. Recognized for her extraordinary musical talent, as well as her generosity and commitment to others, Ms. Anderson was a master of repertoire across operatic, recital, and American traditional genres. Throughout her musical career, she played an incalculably vital role in the acceptance of African-American musicians in the classical musical.

In 1957 Ms. Anderson was appointed by the U.S. Department of State to serve as a Special Envoy to the Far East, and the following year President Dwight D. Eisenhower named her to the post of delegate to the General Assembly of the United Nations. She sang at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961 and in 1963 President Lyndon B. Johnson bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon her. On her 75th birthday, in 1974, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution ordering a special gold medal minted in her honor. On April 8, 1993, Marian Anderson died at the age of 96 in Portland, Oregon.

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