Donors to the Jacobs School of Music put a world of possibilities within reach of our exceptional students: most importantly, the right to an expressive life. Together, we continue to define and the shape the careers and lives of new and emerging, world-class musicians.
Here are just a few examples of the incredible generosity of our donors, and their contributions to the success of the Jacobs School of Music:
• A $6.5 million planned gift from Mary H. Wennerstrom, Jacobs associate dean emerita for instruction, and Leonard M. Phillips, her late husband, is being used to fund piano scholarships and the endowment of the directorship within the William and Gayle Cook Music Library. The Wennerstrom-Phillips Music Library Directorship Endowment is one of the largest estate gifts ever committed by a retired faculty member of the Jacobs School of Music. This gift contributes to IU’s $2.5 billion bicentennial campaign, and is receiving a match from the university.
• A $1 million gift from the Georgina Joshi Foundation Inc. provided finishing materials and equipment for a state-of-the-art audio recording studio at the Musical Arts Center.
• Through a generous donation made by music and media veteran Robbin Ahrold, Broadcast Music International (BMI) established an annual scholarship to be awarded to a skilled Jazz Composition Student at the Jacobs School of Music in honor of Distinguished Professor of Jazz Studies David Baker.
• The majority of a $500,000 gift from Cynthia L. Stewart Simon and William E. Simon Jr., commemorating their 25th wedding anniversary, was used to create Anniversary Plaza in front of the Jacobs School East Studio Building.
• A collection of documents and microfilms belonging to the late Edward R. Lerner was donated to the Musicology Department. Lerner's scholarship focused on the music of the Renaissance and Middle Ages, particularly the works of Alexander Agricola and Heinrich Isaac.
• Alumnus and "Saturday Night Live" band drummer Shawn Pelton donated a drum kit he used on the set of NBC's Emmy Award-winning late-night comedy showcase.
