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One of the early African-American conductors of a major orchestra and National Medal of Arts winner James DePreist has died at age 76.
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His manager, Jason Bagdade, says DePreist died at home Friday in Scottsdale, Ariz.
DePreist's wife, Ginette DePreist, told The Oregonian (http://is.gd/unaJkQ ) her husband had been in and out of the hospital since a massive heart attack last March followed by open-heart surgery.
DePreist was director emeritus of The Juilliard School's conducting program in New York. He was the Oregon Symphony's music director from 1980 until 2003, transforming it from a part-time group into a full-time professional ensemble. DePreist also led orchestras in Quebec, Monte Carlo, Tokyo and Malmo, Sweden.
He was the nephew of the celebrated contralto Marian Anderson, who died in 1993.
Source: The AP
