Lenfest Faculty Challenge

At the Curtis Institute of Music, extraordinary musical traditions are handed down from one generation to the next through the cherished relationship between mentors and protégés. To honor the vital role of Curtis’s legendary faculty in furthering the school’s mission, generous donors have established endowed faculty chairs.

To strengthen the school’s endowment and ensure Curtis’s capacity to attract and retain the finest faculty, Chairman of the Curtis Board of Trustees H. F. “Gerry” Lenfest has offered a remarkable challenge: He will contribute up to $17 million to match gifts of $1.5 million to endow individual faculty chairs.

As of Sept. 21, 2010 Curtis has raised $11.5 million to establish seven new faculty chairs and to receive equivalent support from the Lenfest Faculty Challenge Fund (*Mr. Lenfest is matching gifts at their present value):

• vocal studies head-of-department
• violin studies head-of-department
• piano chair
• composition chair
• double bass chair
• liberal arts chair
• guitar chair (new program starting fall 2011)
   

Curtis has until December 31, 2012, to raise an additional $6.5 million or forfeit the remainder of the matching gift.

Meeting the challenge will enable Curtis to achieve a major goal of its Strategic Plan: to enlist the highest quality faculty in all areas of instruction.

Please help recognize the exceptional quality of the Curtis’s dedicated teachers, while making an important and lasting investment in Curtis. Challenge commitments can be paid over five years or satisfied through a bequest or other planned gift.

Benefits to donors

• Endowed faculty chairs receive prominent recognition in concert programs and other Curtis publications.
• Donors have opportunities to meet the faculty member who holds their chair and receive an annual report on his or her activities.
• Biographies for performing faculty indicate the name of the endowed chair they hold at the Curtis Institute of Music.

Contact

Charles Sterne III, director of principal gifts and planned giving, (215) 717-3126