National Medal Of Arts

Obert C. Tanner, 89, a philanthropist and philosopher who began teaching at the Mormon Seminary in Springville, Utah, and later became a professor and student chaplain at Stanford. Tanner wrote 10 books, including three texts on character education and three on the New Testament. In 1927, Tanner began selling commemorative pins and rings to high school students, making the merchandise himself in his mother's basement. It was the birth of the O.C. Tanner Co.

President Clinton on Monday honored artists, scholars and philanthropists by awarding arts and humanities medals that he said showed the United States was "a nation of creators and innovators." Clinton told guests on the White House's South Lawn that celebrating the nearly two dozen recipients of the medals also celebrates the nation's achievements. The president said the country will always support artists and scholars. "It is our heritage.

Singer-composer Lalo Guerrero, the "father of Chicano music" who received a National Medal of the Arts from President Clinton in January, will perform April 11 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Guerrero's performance is part of "Living Roots '97," a national folk and traditional arts conference at L.A. Theatre Center. The conference fee is $10 and admission to Guerrero's performance is $15. Call: (213) 485-2437.

President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton saluted this year's winners of prestigious awards for the arts and humanities Wednesday, recognizing such luminaries as poet Maya Angelou, singer Barbra Streisand, dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, jazz master Benny Carter and novelist Toni Morrison.

Stage producer and director R. Craig Noel, who led San Diego's Old Globe Theatre to national prominence, and Morten Lauridsen, a Los Angeles composer of oft-performed choral music and a longtime professor at USC's Thornton School of Music, are among the nine honorees receiving the National Medal of Arts from President Bush and Laura Bush in ceremonies today at the White House.

Nine youth mariachi groups from the San Fernando Valley will perform in the second La Voz del Mariachi concert Sunday. The concert, co-sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Latino Arts Council, will begin at 4 p.m. in the gym at San Fernando High School, 11133 O'Melveny Ave. More than 100 musicians from elementary school to college age are expected to perform, said Alex Reza, a social studies teacher at the school and a member of the San Fernando Valley Mariachi Committee.

Maurice Abravanel, the youngest conductor in the New York Metropolitan Opera's history and music director of the Utah Symphony for more than 30 years, has died at age 90. Abravanel, who died Wednesday, had been in failing health for two years. The son of Spanish-Portuguese parents, he grew up in Switzerland and studied music in Berlin with composer Kurt Weill. He made his conducting debut at 21.

Mrs. Norman Chandler of Los Angeles and 11 other artists and patrons of the arts were selected by President Reagan Wednesday as the first recipients of the National Medal of Arts. Mrs. Chandler, wife of the late publisher of the Los Angeles Times, was recognized as "the major effort" behind the planning and construction of the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles, the White House said in a statement.