Class Notes

Paul Burgett ’68E, ’72E (MA), ’76E (PhD), whose connection of more than 50 years began as a student at the Eastman School of Music and continues in his roles as vice president, senior advisor to the president, and University dean, received the Distinguished Alumni Award at Eastman’s commencement ceremony.

Burgett has served in several academic, student life, and administrative roles at Eastman and for the University, acting as a principal liaison among students, alumni, and community organizations and programs. In October 2014, the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center was named in recognition of his leadership and service to the University.

Burgett is cochair of the faculty-and-staff initiative for The Meliora Challenge: The Campaign for the University of Rochester. He and his wife, Catherine Valentine, are charter members of the George Eastman Circle, the University’s leadership annual giving society, and founding members of the Wilson Society, which recognizes people who have made a planned gift to the University.

Distinguished Alumni Award

Noted cellist and music educator Jon Engberg ’54E, ’56E (MM), ’70E (DMA), who was an academic leader at Eastman for two decades, received the Distinguished Alumni Award at a special April event honoring Robert Freeman, a former director of the school. As a founder of the American Arts Trio, Engberg performed around the world. After a tenure on the faculty of West Virginia University, he returned to Eastman in 1975, serving as associate director of academic affairs and associate dean of graduate studies. He and his wife, Judith, are charter members of the George Eastman Circle.

Luminary Award

EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Distinguished Alumni Award

Salvatore Signorelli, the owner of String Instruments Ltd., a downtown Rochester business that’s regarded for its dedication to serving both professional musicians and students, received the Luminary Award during a March concert in his honor at the Eastman School. After a three-year stint in the U.S. Navy, the Rochester native established himself as a musician, music educator, and luthier on Long Island. There, he was a violinist for and associate conductor of the Great Neck Symphony and founded the Young Artists Chamber Symphony and the Virtuoso Ensemble. He also started String Instruments, where he repaired, restored, and made instruments.

Signorelli returned to Rochester in 1982 and opened his business in the cultural district. Shortly after, he donated a significant collection from standard orchestral works to Eastman’s Ensemble Library, and earlier this year, he donated his entire inventory of printed music—almost 6,000 scores of solo and ensemble music for strings, as well as pedagogical materials—to Sibley Music Library.