Handel Medallion Explained

Handel Medallion
Presenter:	The City of New York, United States
Location:	New York City
Country:	United States
Reward:	Medallion
Year:	1959

The Handel Medallion is an American award presented by the City of New York. It is the city's highest award given to individuals for their contribution to the city's intellectual and cultural life.

Establishment

The award was first issued in 1959 to Virginia Portia Royall Inness-Brown, upon the 200th anniversary of the death of George Handel (1685 - 1759), the German-British Baroque composer, noted for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. The award was established under New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr.^[1]

Award winners

Year	Recipient	Notes
1959	Virginia Portia Royall Inness-Brown (1901 - 1990)
1964	Sidney Poitier (1927 - 2022)	^[2]
1965	Joseph B. Martinson (1914 - 1970)	^[3] ^[4]
1966		^[5] ^[6]
1967
1968	Janet D. Schenck	^[7]
1969
1970
1971
1972		^[8]
1973
1974		^[9]
1975		^[10]
1976
1977
1978
1980		^[11]
1981
1982
1985
1986
1988		^[12]
1989
1993
1997	Skitch Henderson (1918 - 2005)	^[13]
1999
2002
2008		^[14]
2009		^[15]
2010		^[16]
2011		^[17]
2013		^[18]

Years unknown:

• Ivan Davis
• Justino Díaz
• Geraldine Fitzgerald
• Benny Goodman
• Gary Graffman
• Kitty Carlisle Hart
• Robert Joffrey
• Vincent La Selva
• Jaime Laredo
• Yehudi Menuhin
• Renata Tebaldi
• Peter Wilhousky

See also

• List of awards for contributions to culture

Notes and References

1. Web site: JUSTINO DIAZ GETS CITY CULTURE PRIZE . 2022-09-15 . timesmachine.nytimes.com . en.
2. News: 1964-04-21 . City Awards Poitier Cultural Prize . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-09-15 . 0362-4331.
3. [PDF]
4. Web site: SHUBERT OUTLETS DUE FOR A RULING; License Chief to Set Hearing on Box Offices at Macy's . 2022-09-15 . timesmachine.nytimes.com . en.
5. Web site: ARTISTS' AWARD GIVEN TO SARNOFF; R.C.A. Chairman Also Gets City's Handel Medallion . 2022-09-15 . timesmachine.nytimes.com . en.
6. Web site: Jazz: Hampton and Friends at Stadium . 2022-09-15 . timesmachine.nytimes.com . en.
7. Web site: Janet D. Schenck Awarded Medal for Service to Music . 2022-09-15 . timesmachine.nytimes.com . en.
8. Gillespie, Dizzy with Al Fraser. To Be Or Not To Bop. New York: Da Capo Press. 1979.
9. Web site: Briefs On The Arts; History of Film' At the Modern . 2022-09-15 . timesmachine.nytimes.com . en.
10. Web site: Enchanted Evening for Joshua Logan . 2022-09-15 . timesmachine.nytimes.com . en.
11. Web site: Joan Schneider Bride of Dr. Gerald Seaman; Marilyn Horne to Receive Handel Medal on the Air . 2022-09-15 . timesmachine.nytimes.com . en.
12. Web site: Explore Our History.
13. Web site: Press Release Archives #722-97 Mayor Presents Handel Medallion to Skitch Hederson . 2022-09-15 . www.nyc.gov.
14. News: ARTS, BRIEFLY; The Mayors Awards . The New York Times . Steven . McElroy. November 10, 2008.
15. [Press release]
16. News: Judith Jamison to Receive Handel Medallion from Mayor Bloomberg 11/8 . Broadway World . November 1, 2010.
17. News: Sondheim to Receive New York City Arts Honor . The New York Times . Patricia . Cohen . October 10, 2011.
18. News: Harvey Lichtenstein, Who Led Brooklyn Academy of Music's Rebirth, Dies at 87 . The New York Times . Robert . Berkvist . February 11, 2017.