FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music has received a $1 million gift from the Georgina Joshi Foundation Inc. to provide finish materials and equipment for a state-of-the-art audio recording studio. To be named the Georgina Joshi Recording Arts Studio, the new facility will be in the extension of the Musical Arts Center, which is under construction on the Bloomington campus.
The facility will fill a significant void for the Jacobs School while also creating opportunities to expand capacity and curricula in the recording arts. Named in honor of Georgina Joshi, a graduate student at the Jacobs School and an alumna of the Royal College of Music, London, the studio will provide an environment for innovation and connection through technology that will enhance learning and artistic opportunities for students and faculty.
"I speak for the entire Indiana University community when saying that we are tremendously grateful to the Joshi family for their continued, visionary support of the Jacobs School of Music," IU President Michael A. McRobbie said. "Georgina's incredible life and passion for music will live on through the countless students whose lives and careers will be enhanced as a result of learning made possible by the generous gift to establish the Georgina Joshi Recording Arts Studio."
The Georgina Joshi Foundation's gift will do more than upgrade the school's technology; it will foster collaborations among students and faculty across the Bloomington campus. The new studio will be a tremendous asset for music students, as well as for those pursuing careers in film production, game design and broadcast journalism, among other areas of study.
The Georgina Joshi Recording Arts Studio will reside in the extension of the Musical Arts Center that was funded in part by a $44 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of the Jacobs School of Music Centennial Project. Conferred in 2007, the MAC extension is the final phase of the grant.
"Fluency in audio recording and media production are essential skills for today's musicians," said Gwyn Richards, dean of the Jacobs School of Music. "Successful musicians must not only master their talent; they must be able to share and promote that talent. Every skill gained and recording made will be a lasting tribute to Georgina Joshi and her passion. We are so very thankful to Louise and Yatish for making this new chapter in the Jacobs School's history possible."
Louise Addicott-Joshi and Yatish Joshi have established an extraordinary philanthropic legacy supporting many causes, including musical education on Indiana University's Bloomington and South Bend campuses. Louise was honored by the Indiana University Foundation with the Partners in Philanthropy Cornerstone Award in 2014. The couple gave a gift to renovate what was initially a recital hall at IU South Bend's Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts, transforming the space into a performance hall with a state-of-the-art sound system. They also established an international study fellowship endowment and a domestic graduate fellowship fund, both named for their daughter, Georgina.
"The Georgina Joshi Foundation is proud and honored to continue Louise's vision of helping students achieve their potential," said Yatish Joshi, chairman of the Georgina Joshi Foundation. "It was her intent to provide opportunities and experiences so students can carry their aspirations far beyond their years at Indiana University. Early in her days at the Jacobs School of Music, Georgina voiced a need for a recording studio so she and her fellow students could make quality recordings for auditions. Louise continued Georgina's efforts. We are excited that the Georgina Joshi Recording Arts Studio will help so many people in so many different ways. That would bring joy to Louise and Georgina."
In addition to the fellowships, the Georgina Joshi Foundation provided underwriting for IU Opera Theater's production of "Giulio Cesare" in 2009. In 2008, the Addicott/Joshi family donated two Hamburg Steinway concert grand pianos to the Jacobs School; they are used primarily in Auer Concert Hall. The Georgina Joshi Foundation has also provided support to establish the Georgina Joshi Composition Award, the Georgina Joshi Handelian Performance Series Fund and the Five Friends Master Class Series. The Georgina Joshi Foundation Inc. was established in 2007 to continue the vision of Georgina Joshi’s mother, Louise Addicott-Joshi, by providing educational and career development opportunities for young musicians and to encourage and support public performance of music.
About Georgina Joshi: A native of Indiana, Georgina Joshi received her bachelor's degree in music (with honors) from the Royal College of Music, London, where she studied with Eiddwen Harrhy. At the time of her death, she was pursuing a master's degree in voice at the IU Jacobs School of Music, where she studied with Alan Bennett. While at IU, Joshi appeared as a soloist in Haydn's "Creation, " Handel's "Solomon," Bach's "B-Minor Mass," Mozart's "Requiem" and Brahms' "Deutsches Requiem." She also appeared in IU Opera Theater productions as Clorinda in "La Cenerentola" and Despina in "Cosi fan Tutte." An enthusiastic performer, Joshi collaborated with other musicians and groups, including the Catacoustic Consort and The Bath Street Studio, and was a member of the Jacobs School's ProArte Choir and the Carmel Bach Festival Chorale. Outside the United States, she appeared as a soloist in England, Wales, Romania and Greece.
The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign: This gift contributes to IU's $2.5 billion campaign, For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign. During the bicentennial campaign, the Georgina Joshi Foundation has donated a total of $4.2 million: $1 million to establish the Five Friends Master Class Series, $1.2 million for the renovation of IU South Bend's recital hall, $1 million to establish the Georgina Joshi Handelian Performance Fund and $1 million to equip the Georgina Joshi Recording Arts Studio.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses: IU Bloomington, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in December 2019 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration in 2020. To learn more about the campaign, its impact and how to participate, visit the campaign's website, forall.iu.edu.