Aaron Copland's name is synonymous with American music. It was his pioneering achievement to break free from Europe and create concert music that is characteristically American. Known for beloved works like Fanfare for the Common Man, Rodeo, and Appalachian Spring, he was also a conductor, author, and cultural ambassador. While studying with Nadia Boulanger in Paris, he became interested in incorporating popular styles into his music and promoted new compositions through lectures and writing, and organized the famed Copland-Sessions concerts. In response to the Depression and WWII, he composed works like Billy the Kid and Lincoln Portrait that resonated with the American public. Copland’s numerous honors included the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kennedy Center Award, and an Oscar. In 1982, Queens College established the Aaron Copland School of Music in his honor.