In Review

CENTENNIAL SERENADE: The Sequoia Reed Quintet—Gwen Goodman ’22E, Trevor Chu ’22E, Michael Miller ’22E, master’s student Julianna Darby, and Harrison Short ’22E—took the stage as part of Eastman’s centennial kick-off event. (Photographer by Zachary Bokuniewicz/University of Rochester)

The celebration of the Eastman School of Music’s 100th anniversary officially got under way this spring with a nod to the school’s storied history and a look toward the next 100 years of musical and educational excellence.

At a socially distanced event livestreamed from the stage of Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, President Sarah Mangelsdorf and Jamal Rossi, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music, publicly announced a $100 million Centennial Campaign as part of the school’s anniversary this year.

“The Eastman Centennial Campaign will launch Eastman into its second century of excellence in musical artistry, scholarship, leadership, and community engagement,” Rossi said as he outlined the campaign’s priorities. They include scholarships for talented student musicians; the recruitment and retention of exceptional faculty; and program support for emerging studies such as film and video game scoring and arts leadership, as well as innovative programs that bridge music and medicine.

The campaign’s cochairs are University Trustees Joan Beal ’84E, who is also chair of Eastman’s National Council; Cathy Minehan ’68; and Tim Wentworth and his spouse, Robin Wentworth.

With more than $50 million already raised, the campaign has secured several leadership gifts, including a $5 million gift from the Wegman Family Foundation—$2 million of which is designated for a scholarship challenge to encourage other donors to support the establishment of 40 to 50 new endowed scholarships.

The kick-off event included performances by two student groups, the Sequoia Reed Quintet and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Directed by Professor of Conducting and Ensembles Mark Davis Scatterday ’89E (DMA), the Eastman Wind Ensemble performed the world premiere of a brass fanfare, Festival Music, by Steve Danyew ’10E (MM).

The Sequoia Reed Quintet—oboist Gwen Goodman ’22E, clarinetist Michael Miller ’22E, saxophonist Trevor Chu ’22E, bass clarinetist and master’s student Julianna Darby, and bassoonist Harrison Short ’22E, performed “Praeludium” from the Holberg Suite by Edvard Grieg, arranged by Raaf Hekkema, and the movement “Cherry” from Splinter by Marc Mellits ’88E.

Established in 1921, the school will more formally mark its 100th anniversary beginning this fall with a celebration that continues throughout 2022.

Events include world premieres of more than 40 new compositions and fanfares composed by preeminent composers; acclaimed guest artists performing alongside Eastman’s ensembles, national academic and music conferences, alumni events throughout the country, a documentary produced in partnership with Rochester’s PBS affiliate, WXXI, and other programming and activities.

For more information, visit the campaign website.