Diaries
Diaries 1999-2000
Mark O¹Connor at the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington D.C. Airs December 29th,1999 on CBS
I was to help pay tribute to Victor Borge at the 22nd annual Kennedy Center
Honors, but that was just the beginning of my wonderful weekend in
Washington D.C.
It was December 5th and lovely weather in our nation¹s capital. After being
picked up at the airport by Jack Fallat, an extremely helpful fellow who has driven
me at functions like this in Washington before, I meet up with all of the kids
from "Opus 118" and Roberta Guaspari from East Harlem. We will recreate our spot from
the movie "Music Of The Heart" for a tribute to the pianistic and comedic legend
that will be one of the five honorees this year. After meeting my now favorite
actor Kevin Spacey backstage, he actually blushed a little when I told him I was
such a fan- what a genuine person, I listened to his beautiful speech he was giving to
honoree Jason Robards Jr. It was riveting. The producers of the show for CBS, Don
Mischer and George Stevens Jr. had written something for me to say on the tribute to
Mr. Borge. It was scary rehearsing that part of it because I had to do something
that the very finest actors were there doing for the show as well, including the
fabulous Christopher Plummer who was hosting the Borge segment. Speaking rehearsed
lines with no teleprompter was a little bit of a challenge. And guess who
introduces me to the stage ? Walter Cronkite. I gave him my new CD and he
was so sweet. He even said he should get my autograph on it. I couldn¹t believe it.
The violin kids from Harlem played "We Shall Overcome" and I joined in with
them. Then I was to play a transitional cadenza that I had sort of figured out that
morning which gets us into our finale and our movie "hit" "Orange Blossom Special".
Many people said at the rehearsal that they really liked my new cadenza. I
utilized partof my piece "Call Of The Mockingbird" in it.
That night at the Department Of State, hosted by Madam Secretary Albright,
was the official awards ceremony. I sat at the table with the Senator from South
Carolina, Fritz Hollings and his lovely wife. She gave me their phone number
and asked me to call her if I ever wanted to go visit Capital Hill. I met
another honoree, Sean Connery and gave him a CD, as well as did to our history-making host.
Madeline Albright was so gracious. I saw my old friends Take 6 there. They
were to tribute Stevie Wonder. The groundbreaking dancer Judith Jamison was sitting
at the next table to us. In the main room of the State Department, one can
actually lay their hands upon Thomas Jefferson¹s desk, the one where he drafted part of
the Declaration Of Independence.
The next morning¹s dress rehearsal went very well and they taped our segment
for extra camera shots. I changed a little here and there on the spoken
introduction I was to make in order for it to be a little more comfortable. Then it was
brunch with everybody at the hotel. I met the Secretary of Defense, William Cohen and he
was very nice to me. He asked if we were all prepared for the show and I
reported to him that we were well rehearsed. Sean Connery came in to the room and looked
my way to greet me. I saw my old friend Bill Ivy, who now is the president of
the National Endowment For The Arts. Also it was an incredibly lovely surprise
to see my violin-playing friend, the great Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg. She had just
played at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony and was invited to attend
this weekend's events.
Then it was off to the White House. The "House" looked beautiful and newly
decorated for the Christmas season. I met more people here as well. Mathew
Broderick, Patrick Stewart and Lynn Redgrave. I stood in the presidential
receiving line. Just in back of me were Michael Douglas and his new young
lady and just ahead was Mary Tyler Moore. I told Mary that my mother and I watched
every week all during my childhood. She asked me if it was "Nick at Night" that I
watched and confirmed to her I was referring to the original Black & White broadcast
coming across the airwaves in the 60's. When our line position got closer to
the President, I saw Vernon Jordan. I also noticed that the President greeted
Mrs. Moore, very presidential and polite. Wondering possibly that she has
probably been to the see the President many times. I was hoping that President
Clinton would remember me as I have played for him before. Well before I could even
get the words hello Mr. President out, he lifted his arms and said "My gosh, the
greatest violinist in the world" and then hugged me with both arms right
there in front of the cameras. I presented to him my new CD "Fanfare For The
Volunteer", he stared at it for about five seconds and said to me, "I will listen to it
tonight". Well the show was not going to be over until 11:00 p.m. so I assume he was going
to be into some late night listening and on a Sunday night no less. I was honored
and actually fabulously blown away by the reception coming from our President of
the United States. Mrs. Clinton mentioned to me as well that they both love my
music and listen to me often. I told her I had just given "him" my new one.
It was on to the show. Our segment went very well and I spoke very precisely
and played O.K. Everybody seemed to really love what we had done. As I took the
stageI said the following statement before the five honorees and the President
and Mrs. Clinton.
"Thank you very much. It is great to be here tonight to tribute
Victor Borge. Through most of this century, you have dedicated your life to music ?
especially by encouraging young people to love it. Well here tonight, we have 26
young musicians from Opus 118 in East Harlem. Their teacher Roberta Guaspari is
here as well. Her students, like you Mr. Borge put their heart and real life in to
their music."
After we were done, Mr. Borge loved it. We all waved to him up there in his
box seat by the President. He was moved and jumping for joy.
Afterwards I greeted Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock and others. All night
people were telling me how they enjoyed the music. For the finale, Mr. Jones
conducted the choir and all of the cast singing "We Are The World". Bill Cosby went to
the kid¹s dressing room and sat with each of the 26 and posed for pictures! The
post concert dinner took place in the Hall of Nations and the Hall of States. I
sat right near Senator Ted Kennedy. Michael Stevens who is producing the Millennium
concert on the Mall in Washington asked me what I was doing for New Years
and inquired if I was interested in performing. I¹ll be there I said. I also sat
right next to the assistant social secretary for the White House and she told me that
after the receiving line ended that President Clinton was waving my CD around to
everybody stating that "Mark O¹Connor gave me his new CD." I finally left
the Center as the great Big Band was hosting a jam with Stevie Wonder, Herbie
Hancock and Diane Shurr all taking turns at the piano soloing jazz. What a weekend!
Mark O'Connor - 12/5/99
