GREEN & GLOVER: The sound of music

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By Stephanie Green and Elizabeth Glover

The sound of music

Her political party may have taken a beating Tuesday night, but first lady Michelle Obama certainly was not singin' the blues on Wednesday.

Mrs. Obama, glowing in a silver dress, sparkling brooch and elegant updo, welcomed actresses Kerry Washington and Alfre Woodard and philanthropist Teresa Heinz Kerry, among other distinguished guests, to a White House ceremony where she handed out 2009's Coming Up Taller Awards to arts education advocacy programs that serve disadvantaged youths. The 15 winners were selected from among 400 nominations.

"Welcome to the White House! I love saying that," Mrs. O began. Teaching young people to sing, play instruments and recite Shakespeare not only empowers "the imagination" but also teaches "hard work and discipline," she continued.

"If you ask a kid to dream, they'll dream," she said.

The first lady was joined onstage in the State Dining Room by Jim Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and George Stevens Jr., co-chairman of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Mr. Stevens is best known for his role as the producer of the Kennedy Center Honors, an annual event that pays tribute to artists who have made extraordinary contributions to their fields.

He quipped that he's going to start calling the Kennedy medals "the Coming Up Taller Awards for seniors," referring to the award recipients usually being a little long in the tooth.

The first lady warmly embraced the winners as they came onstage but seemed especially buoyed by the Chicago program, the National Museum of Mexican Art, as the recipients are from her hometown.