Schuller, who recently turned 80, is frequently cited as the founder of the "third stream" movement, which combined jazz and classical music. Trained as a hornist, he played with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Cincinnati Symphony before his 20th birthday. Later, he appeared with such jazz musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and John Lewis. His many compositions include the Pulitzer Prize-winning Of Reminiscences and Reflections (1993). He taught at Tanglewood and Yale and was the president of the New England Conservatory, and is also a writer and conductor.

Schuller will receive the award on December 16 during an 8 p.m. concert of the Jupiter String Quartet in the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington. He will also speak at a pre-concert event at 6:15 p.m. hosted by the Library of Congress's Loras John Schissel. Tickets for the concerts are free, but there is a handling charge. Call TicketMaster at 301-397-7328, 703-573-7328, or 800-551-7328. No tickets are required for the pre-concert event.