We’ve had a wonderfully successful year at the Frost School of Music. We’ve seen the inauguration of the Henry Mancini Institute, a laboratory for our students to learn and hone the entrepreneurial spirit that will propel them to the zenith of their fields, along with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, which performed throughout the school year to great acclaim.
We also launched the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program, designed to develop the creative skills of talented young artist/songwriters by immersing them in the diverse traditions that form the foundation of modern American song writing. Furthermore, I’m delighted to report that the Experimental Music Curriculum is well on its way to becoming a permanent part of the Frost School of Music. In this ground breaking curriculum students will experience their music education in a very new way—a complete integration of musicianship skills with performance and hands-on learning.
;Festival Miami 2008 was a tremendous success, featuring such artists as John Corigliano, Tierney Sutton, Steve Miller, Patti Austin, Monica Mancini, and Pablo Ziegler. Attendance was at an all time high and I could not have been more pleased by the performance of our students and faculty, along with our many guest performers. At the Frost School of Music we’re proud to be one of the major cultural institutions in South Florida and are committed to increasing our presence here.
Still, as you well know, times are tough. The economy is weak and many people are having difficulty making ends meet. Unfortunately, many of our students are in the same predicament; they need our help more than ever. Your gift to the Frost School of Music Donor Society enables us to constantly improve our offerings to our students, who are, after all, our most important asset. With your help we can ensure that no worthy student will be denied an education here because of financial difficulties.
Believe me when I say that now more than ever we—I—need your help. Every gift is appreciated, and right now we want your support more than ever. Please take the action today that will guarantee that we at the Frost School of Music will continue to serve our students to the best of our ability.
Warmly,
Shelton “Shelly” Berg
Dean and Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music
Dear Friend—
A singular measure of a school of music is its responsiveness to the ever changing environment into which it graduates the next generation of performers, composers, educators, business executives, therapists and technological wizards. Here at the Frost School of Music we take this challenge seriously—with high expectations of our students and ourselves. Helping students to succeed in the marketplace is our primary goal; indeed, it is our chief responsibility.
To that end the FSOM has launched two new institutes of learning—the first of their kind in this country. Named after one of the most important popular composers of the 20th century, the Henry Mancini Institute is a laboratory for our students to learn and hone the entrepreneurial spirit that will propel them to the zenith of their fields. Students lay the foundation of their careers through networking, working with renowned conductors and participating in master classes with legendary performers. Their opportunities are limited only by their imagination and ingenuity.
FSOM alumnus Bruce Hornsby has endowed the Creative American Music Program. In addition to performing classics from the Great American Songbook, the curriculum is designed to develop the creative skills of talented young artist/ songwriters by immersing them in the diverse traditions that form the foundation of modern American songwriting. This rigorous approach will require students to become intimate, both in understanding and practice, with the vast and varied legacy that is American music.
We recognize that not every FSOM alumnus can make major donations and in our view the amount given is almost beside the point. Our aim is to include alumni in the many changes that make the FSOM such an exciting place to study and perform musics of every type. We’re not so interested in how much money you give; rather, your participation is the prize we hope to win. We believe that by engaging you in our work and fostering in you the kind of “buzz” that exists today on campus, you’ll spread the word about your alma mater.
As a FSOM graduate, you are our number one recruitment agent. We’re depending on you to send us the best and brightest students so that the momentum we’ve achieved will continue; that the changes we’ve instituted will prosper; that the future success of your school will never be in doubt. Take part in the action! Make a gift today—of any amount—and remain active as we strive to literally alter the way that music is taught in American higher education.
We value each and every gift, but not as much as we value you.
Warmly,
Shelton “Shelly” Berg
Dean and Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music
Dear Friend—
Success breeds success. It’s an old maxim that is nowhere more evident than at the Frost School of Music—in part your Frost School of Music. This year’s spring and fall terms were marked by outstanding performances by students, faculty and guest artists. Festival Miami 2009 was hugely popular, with many standing room only concerts; our signal educational institutions—the Creative American Music Program and the Henry Mancini Institute—more than fulfilled their directive to prepare students for a professional life beyond the mainstream Classical tradition.
I don’t have to tell you that 2009 was a time of overwhelming economic challenges in the nation. We recognize that many of you were personally affected by the downturn. Here at the Frost School of Music, the collapse of the financial markets impacted our own ability to provide comprehensive support to our students—in the form of scholarships—and to our prestigious faculty—in the form of research grants.
Consequently, I write you with a keen understanding of how nationwide events have squeezed us all monetarily; it is with real humility that I ask for your support. The same cutbacks implemented here at the Frost School of Music were put into place in many of our students’ households, burdening entire families as they try to provide the best education possible to their children.
Like those parents, we too are committed to offering a first-class environment in which our family of students can prepare themselves for a career in music education, composition, solo and ensemble performance, music business and technology or jazz studies. Providing a world-class conservatory, as you know, is an expensive endeavor; to maintain our status as a leading music school requires that caring individuals like you donate to the best of your ability.
Every gift is precious to us: we make no distinction between personal contributions and corporate or foundation bequests. Indeed, individuals like you comprise the bulk of our support base and we more than ever count on you to help us further our primary mission: to prepare the finest music professionals this country will come across. I send you my continued thanks for your continued support and good wishes.
Warmly,
Shelton “Shelly” Berg
Dean and Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music
Dear friends—
As you know, the University of Miami Frost Band of the Hour is the largest and most spirited student organization on the UM campus and draws its membership from the entire student body. Band members represent most academic majors and hail from every state in the nation. And, the band performs for more than one million Hurricane fans annually.
In order to ensure its continued success, the Band of the Hour Annual Fund asks for your support. The Annual Fund provides assistance to deserving students while making certain that unforeseen expenses for instruments and facility needs are covered. Your contribution will enable the Band of the Hour to continue its outreach, which includes band clinics (known as exhibitions) to high schools throughout Florida.
Featured most prominently at Hurricane football games, the Band of the Hour also performs at other university functions such as Homecoming, Parents Weekend, alumni events and selected functions at President Shalala’s home. Moreover, the band has performed at the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Peach, Liberty, Bluebonnet, Gator and Cotton Bowls.
The Band of the Hour is one of UM’s most important PR assets and has been part of the university community since classes first met in 1926. The Band of the Hour needs your support now more than ever. Take a minute now to make your tax-deductible donation and help us further the good work of the Band of the Hour.
Thank you, and best wishes.
Success breeds success. It’s an old maxim that is nowhere more evident than at the Frost School of Music—in part your Frost School of Music. This year’s spring and fall terms were marked by outstanding performances by students, faculty and guest artists. Festival Miami 2009 was hugely popular, with many standing room only concerts; our signal educational institutions—the Creative American Music Program and the Henry Mancini Institute—more than fulfilled their directive to prepare students for a professional life beyond the mainstream Classical tradition.
I don’t have to tell you that 2009 was a time of overwhelming economic challenges in the nation. We recognize that many of you were personally affected by the downturn. Here at the Frost School of Music, the collapse of the financial markets impacted our own ability to provide comprehensive support to our students—in the form of scholarships—and to our prestigious faculty—in the form of research grants.
Consequently, I write you with a keen understanding of how nationwide events have squeezed us all monetarily; it is with real humility that I ask for your support. The same cutbacks implemented here at the Frost School of Music were put into place in many of our students’ households, burdening entire families as they try to provide the best education possible to their children.
Like those parents, we too are committed to offering a first-class environment in which our family of students can prepare themselves for a career in music education, composition, solo and ensemble performance, music business and technology or jazz studies. Providing a world-class conservatory, as you know, is an expensive endeavor; to maintain our status as a leading music school requires that caring individuals like you donate to the best of your ability.
Every gift is precious to us: we make no distinction between personal contributions and corporate or foundation bequests. Indeed, individuals like you comprise the bulk of our support base and we more than ever count on you to help us further our primary mission: to prepare the finest music professionals this country will come across. I send you my continued thanks for your continued support and good wishes.
Warmly,
Shelton “Shelly” Berg
Dean and Patricia L. Frost Professor of Music
As you know, the University of Miami Frost Band of the Hour is the largest and most spirited student organization on the UM campus and draws its membership from the entire student body. Band members represent most academic majors and hail from every state in the nation. And, the band performs for more than one million Hurricane fans annually.
In order to ensure its continued success, the Band of the Hour Annual Fund asks for your support. The Annual Fund provides assistance to deserving students while making certain that unforeseen expenses for instruments and facility needs are covered. Your contribution will enable the Band of the Hour to continue its outreach, which includes band clinics (known as exhibitions) to high schools throughout Florida.
Featured most prominently at Hurricane football games, the Band of the Hour also performs at other university functions such as Homecoming, Parents Weekend, alumni events and selected functions at President Shalala’s home. Moreover, the band has performed at the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Peach, Liberty, Bluebonnet, Gator and Cotton Bowls.
The Band of the Hour is one of UM’s most important PR assets and has been part of the university community since classes first met in 1926. The Band of the Hour needs your support now more than ever. Take a minute now to make your tax-deductible donation and help us further the good work of the Band of the Hour.
Thank you, and best wishes.
Phillip L. Clements
Director of the Band of the Hour