“The Tucson Symphony Orchestra has added $1 million to its 10-year-old endowment fund and created the first endowed chair in the orchestra’s 87-year history,” writes Cathalena Burch in Sunday’s (8/2) Arizona Daily Star. “The orchestra in late June received the final payment of a $1 million gift from the estate of William R. Matthews Jr. that will be added to the endowment fund…. The TSO also received a $400,000 donation from the Connie Hillman Family Foundation to endow the principal trumpet chair in perpetuity…. ‘What I think is really exciting about it is the way in which they chose to invest in the TSO,’ [TSO President and CEO Mark] Blakeman said. ‘They want to invest in the musicians.’ Conrad Jones, the principal trumpet player since the 2013-14 season, is the first recipient of the Connie Hillman Family Foundation endowed chair…. Blakeman said the TSO is joining that effort by launching its ‘Partner With a Player’ program to encourage donors to support individual musicians. Donors will sign on to support a specific musician for a season and will get unique perks with their gift…. ‘It really builds a bridge, and makes it a really personal and unique opportunity for the donors to get to know someone in the orchestra,’ he said.”
Posted August 4, 2015
