The other recipients are composer Philip Glass; singer Martina Arroyo; David DiChiera, a composer and the general director of the Michigan Opera Theatre; Eve Queler, the music director of Opera Orchestra of New York; Orrin Keepnews, a writer and record producer; flutist Hubert Laws; David Liebman, a saxophonist and flutist; and composer and arranger Johnny Mandel.

Also being honored are Yacub Addy, a Ghanaian drummer; fiddler Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor, Gladys Kukana Grace, a Lauhala weaver; Mary Jackson, a sweetgrass basketweaver; Delano "Del" Floyd McCoury, a bluegrass guitarist and singer; Judith McCulloh, a folklorist and editor; dancer Kamala Lakshmi; Mike Rafferty, an Irish flute player; and Ezequiel Torres, an Afro-Cuban drummer and drum builder.

Branford Marsalis composed the original score for the current Broadway revival of Fences, which earned him a 2010 Tony Award nominationfor Best Score.