Cornell University held its fourth annual Giving Day on March 14, and the Department of Music directed all undesignated gifts to the Friends of Music Fund to support scholarships for music lessons. The Friends of Music is an initiative begun in 1977 under the leadership of Otto Doering ‘62 that serves as a fund dedicated to supporting student performance. Over the years, Friends of Music has assisted with ensemble tours, paid for instrument repairs and purchases, and supported scholarships for music lessons (which carry an additional cost over tuition).
Milo Reynolds-Dominguez (music major, class of ‘20), part of the department’s student-led communications team, enlisted the help of students and faculty from across the department to help spread the word about our campaign on social media, with most attention dedicated to our MusicatCornell Facebook page. With the strong support of students in the ensembles, students currently taking lessons, and our faculty leading ensembles and teaching in the studio, we were excited to showcase the variety of voices found in the music department, as well as the sense of connection music students make with the community.
Giving Day itself was a tremendous success. Thirty-three individuals gave to the department, donating a total of $10,754 (not including any corporate matching grants) toward music lessons scholarships in the department. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed, which included current students, alumni, and friends of music.
There are many ways to give to the Department of Music, on Giving Day or any other day of the year. Please consider becoming a donor, whether it be to the Friends of Music, to your favorite ensemble or program, or to the unrestricted Music Gifts fund, which supports lecturer salaries and other essential department needs. For more information about giving options, please contact Christopher Riley, Administrative Manager, at cjr20@cornell.edu.
