CGCC Community Arts Program 2007 Summer Concert Series artist Leon Fleisher was named a 2007 Kennedy Center Honoree. The annual Kennedy Center Honors awards outstanding contributors to the performing arts. Each year, five artists are bestowed this prestigious honor. The four 2007 honorees joining Leon Fleisher were comedian-author Steve Martin, pop diva Diana Ross, filmmaker Martin Scorcese and songwriter Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Each received their award at a dinner hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on December 1.

On December 2, the five were honored at a White House reception hosted by George W. and Laura Bush, followed by the nationally-televised annual gala performance at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Speaking to the gala December 2 audience in Fleisher’s honor, superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma recounted his college days and hearing Leon Fleisher’s recording of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1: “That music is still seared in my brain.”

The CGCC Community Arts Program is thrilled with its ability to present Leon Fleisher on the 2007 Summer Concert Series. Leon Fleisher was a fortuitous choice indicative of a consistent quality that the Community Arts Program is proud to provide.