Fred Ho Harvard Arts Medal

Recognizing a saxophonist and self-described "revolutionary artist"

Fred Ho

Chinese-American jazz saxophonist, composer, writer, and self-described “radical, revolutionary artist” Fred Ho '79 will receive a Harvard Arts Medal on November 13, an unusual conferral of such an honor, which is typically made in the spring at Arts First.

Harvard Magazine's profile of Ho, "Chords of Revolution," began, vividly:

Fred Ho ’79 has never owned a car, nor is he “married with children.” No boss dictates his workday, and he buys very little. He has not even stepped into a clothing store in more than 12 years because he designs his own apparel, though he generally prefers to be naked. “What I create is better than Armani, better than Ralph Lauren, better than these boring mass marketers,” says Ho, whose signature piece is a fire-engine-red silk duster patterned with white cranes, made from a recycled Japanese wedding kimono. “I am not a Luddite and I don’t subscribe to purist positions regarding consumer capitalism. I just choose to consume something better.”

The news release about the award also announces a concert with the Harvard Jazz Bands on the following day, featuring the world premiere of Ho's "Take the Zen Train."

You might also like

‘Passengers’ at A.R.T. Blends Acrobatics with Einstein’s Relativity

Review: Quantum mechanics meets circus arts at the American Repertory Theater’s performance

Bringing Korean Stories to Life

Composer Julia Riew writes the musicals she needed to see.

Thomas Andrew “Tom” Lehrer

The mathematician and satirist kept Harvard in his thoughts—and lyrics.

Most popular

How MAGA Went Mainstream at Harvard

Trump, TikTok, and the pandemic are reshaping Gen Z politics.

Is the Constitution Broken?

Harvard legal scholars debate the state of our founding national document.

Two Years of Doxxing at Harvard

What happens when students are publicly named and shamed for their views?

Explore More From Current Issue

Brandon Terry, wearing a blue suit, standing before The Embrace, a large bronze sculpture of intertwined arms in Boston Common.

A New Narrative of Civil Rights

Political philosopher Brandon Terry’s vision of racial progress

Student walking under bright stage lights shaped like smartphones displaying social media apps.

Two Years of Doxxing at Harvard

What happens when students are publicly named and shamed for their views?

Karla Cornejo Villavicencio smiling beside the pink cover of her novel "Catalina" featuring a jeweled star and eye.

Being Undocumented in America

Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s writing aims to challenge assumptions.