Friday, August 22, 2008

Music Academy reaches fundraising goal

BY BENJAMIN GOTTLIEB
DAILY SOUND CORRESPONDENT

Raising one million dollars in donations over the weekend, the Music Academy of the West concluded its recital hall renovation in dramatic fashion through sizable donations from two private donors.
The donations, which completed the school’s campaign goal of 15 million dollars, were announced following the academy’s season ending community concert at The Granada.

“I can’t think of a better way to bring this outstanding fundraising effort to a close and to mark the end of another exceptional summer season,” said Music Academy Board Chairman James E. Davidson.
With commencement of the new recital hall beginning in 2001, the newly named Hahn Hall first gained fiscal steam by way of a 6.1 million dollar donation from Stephen and Carla Hahn. The newly renovated concert hall showcases improved acoustics and numerous other enhancements vital to the growth of the program, according to campus officials.
The campaign for a renovated concert hall gained critical momentum on August 7, when Santa Barbara philanthropists Shirley and Seymour Lehrer publicized their plans to donate 3 million dollars to the Music Academy – the gift included a one million dollar ‘challenge grant’ contingent upon the recital hall’s fundraising efforts.
The extra funds were promised to the Music Academy if fundraising goals were met prior to the year’s end.
According to Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the Music Academy Scott Reed, the project was completed on time and on budget, and the associated recital hall renovation fundraising campaign was fulfilled ahead of schedule.
“We are exceedingly pleased to have met our campaign goal early. We now look forward to focusing our fundraising efforts on our full-scholarship program and future facility upgrades to further enhance the Academy’s instructional program,” Reed said in a prepared statement. “Although our primary campaign needs have been fulfilled, we encourage community members to be part of this historic time at the Academy by sponsoring a seat in Hahn Hall or adding their names to the impressive Donor Fountain that will be constructed in a nearby courtyard early next year.”
Leni Fe Bland, a philanthropist from Montecito, contributed half of the Music Academy’s remaining fundraising goal, capping off a season of respectable donations from the local community and spurring the recital hall’s renovation. The other $500,000 gift was given to the Music Academy from an anonymous donor who contacted the Academy on the morning of August 16. A total of 116 donors have contributed to the Academy’s recital hall renovation fundraising campaign.
“We’ve enjoyed a remarkable run of good fortune, and are boundlessly appreciative for the generosity of our many donors,” said Music Academy President NancyBell Coe.

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