Gift establishes a violin professorship at the Eastman School of Music

The generosity of Susan Ain ’78E and Aron Ain will support and honor exemplary faculty

Aron Ain and Susan Ain ’78E

A $1.5 million gift from Susan Ain ’78E and her husband, Aron Ain, establishes a newly endowed violin professorship at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music. The Susan and Aron Ain Professorship for Violin will support, recognize, and honor as well as attract and retain exemplary faculty at the acclaimed music school.

“Endowed professorships provide us with essential resources to support world-class faculty and recognize them for their exceptional accomplishments as artists, scholars, and teachers,” says Jamal Rossi, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music. “We are tremendously grateful to the Ains for their commitment to music, education, and excellence.”

“As an Eastman alumna, I know how important professors are,” says Susan. “Students want to learn from and be inspired by the best and often attend a music school because of the quality of their instructors. We created this professorship as a way to support the future of classical music, ensure outstanding instruction, and develop the potential of young artists. Making this gift during Eastman’s Centennial is also our way of celebrating the school’s place in history.”

At Eastman, Susan studied with the late Millard Taylor ’35E and performed in the Eastman Philharmonia under the direction of David Effron, the head of the school’s orchestra program from 1977 to 1998. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in violin performance at Eastman in 1978, Susan earned a master of musical arts degree from Roosevelt University’s Chicago Musical College and later a master of arts degree in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College. She has enjoyed a career in music education and is committed to volunteerism and supporting various organizations centered around music, Jewish life, higher education, and medicine.

In the fall of 2022, Susan and Aron—an author, software technology expert, and executive chair of UKG—were presented with Eastman’s Centennial Award. This honor recognizes the couple’s commitment to artistry, scholarship, leadership, community engagement, and philanthropy. In addition to their support of Eastman, the Ains have been members of the George Eastman Circle, the University’s annual leadership giving society, since 2012.

“Music and education have been so important to our family,” says Aron. “This gift celebrates our appreciation for both and, we hope, makes a difference in the training and education of the next generation of talented performers and music leaders.”