By Jocelyn Bogen
January 31, 2011

Mayor's from across the country joined Arts patrons and over 90 members of the Kennedy family on January 20, the 50th anniversary of President of John F. Kennedy's inauguration, paying tribute to the artistic legacy of the 35th President during The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration.

The star'studded evening was held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. United States President Barak Obama opened the celebration with remarks on how the Kennedy Administration contributed to the Arts and supported cultural events during the brief span of his presidency. The evening's hosts were Diane Sawyer and Mike Nichols. Mayors and guests were treated to appearances and performances by Harolyn Blackwell, Jack Dejohnette, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, The Manzari Brothers, Terrence McNally, Lorne Michaels, Ann Hobson Pilot, Paul Simon, Esperanza Spalding, and The Harvard Glee Club.

In addition, American Ballet Theatre ballerina Veronika Part gave a solo performance entitled The Dying Swan. Kennedy Center and National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Music Director Christoph Eschenbach conducted the NSO in the world premiere of a composition by Peter Lieberson with narration by Morgan Freeman titled Remembering JFK: An American Elegy. The composition was commissioned by the Kennedy Center and includes text taken from President Kennedy's speeches and writings.

The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration kicks off a three week-long series of performances and events featuring a variety of music, theatre, dance and poetry, which the President believed vital to expressing the humanity of a nation and fostering understanding between people.