The Thornton School presents the Argue Dickens Medal each year to honor an individual who is making extraordinary contributions to the promotion of the arts in Los Angeles.
After nine years of widely respected work as executive director of the New York Philharmonic, Borda became president and CEO of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in January of 2000. She has since received considerable credit for the Philharmonic's current artistic and financial good health — and for overseeing the successful opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003 and the renovation of the Hollywood Bowl the following year.
In conjunction with her receipt of the Argue Dickens Medal, the Thornton School has created a scholarship in Borda's name. The first recipient of the Deborah Borda Scholarship is 18-year-old violist and USC undergraduate John Stulz.
