The Eastman School of Music says that two gifts announced this week which total $10 million, will help support faculty and students at that music school in Rochester.
The gifts of $5 million each come from two members of the University of Rochester’s Board of Trustees, Cathy Minehan and Danny Wegman.
Minehan, who studied both voice and the clarinet at Eastman, is currently managing director of Arlington Advisory Partners, a Boston-based accounting services firm and previously was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Wegman is chairman of the supermarket chain that bears his name , and is chairman of the board of the Wegmans Family Foundation. He is also chairman emeritus of the University of Rochester Board of Trustees.
Minehan’s commitment will establish two professorships, and Wegmans gift, which comes through their family foundation, which support faculty and students including student scholarships.
“Music has incredible power in our society,” says Minehan. “It can inspire, renew our spirit, and even heal. I’m thrilled to support the world’s best musicians as they teach, refine their craft, and launch careers that enrich lives around the world.”
Wegman said that, “Music and the arts foster vibrant cities. The Eastman School of Music is an incredible asset in our community, and it anchors Rochester’s performing arts scene. It’s important that we continue to invest in Eastman’s faculty and students, who are at the heart of the school’s enduring success.”
Eastman dean Jamal Rossi said that, “Throughout its history, Eastman has recruited accomplished students from around the world, admitting them based on their musical and intellectual potential, not their financial resources. With Cathy and Danny’s generosity, more talented students will be able to realize their dream of attending Eastman.”
