CAMPAIGN NEWS
October
2015

A Note From
Alan Fletcher
The day after Mahler's Sixth Symphony closed our 2015 Season, the Aspen Music Festival and School's staff quickly moved off campus to make way for phase II of construction on the Matthew and Carolyn Bucksbaum Campus. Much has already happened-entire buildings have been moved, new foundations have been dug-it's nearly unrecognizable! The fully renovated Campus will be unveiled in June- just in time to welcome our students, artist-faculty, and guest artists for the 2016 Season. With a new rehearsal hall, teaching building, and cafeteria, we look forward to welcoming more patrons and music lovers up Castle Creek to visit what will be the country's most impressive summer music teaching facility.

None of this would be possible without our vibrant donor community. You not only support our annual needs year after year, you are instrumental in building a brighter future through our Where Dreams Begin Campaign. 
 
This winter we will continue building support for the programs, presentations, and people that make our organization so special. Supporting the Campaign, either through gifts now or in the form of a planned gift, ensures that the AMFS can continue to be the preeminent summer music program and festival.
 
Your support of the AMFS and our Campaign has been and continues to be critical to our success. Thank you for being a dedicated member of the Festival Family!

With sincere thanks,  
Alan Fletcher
President and CEO
Coming Soon- Fanfare Newsletter
This fall look for our latest issue of  Fanfare , a newsletter that dives into ways to give now and into the future. Your support of the AMFS through planned giving is critical to our continued excellence. 
How to Give
 to make a contribution today.

To discuss this opportunity further, please contact Alexander Brose, AMFS Vice President for Development, at (970) 205-5060, or [email protected].
Contact Us
225 Music School Road
Aspen, CO 81611

970-925-3254 administration
970-925-9042 box office
Phase II of Construction Is Underway!
The Business Building was moved last week to a new location on the Bucksbaum Campus to make space for a new teaching studio building.
The Business Building, where the executive, development, and marketing offices were located, was meticulously moved by a team that specializes in the relocation of historic structures. Though an assortment of offices to us, this building was the foreman's house when the campus site was an active silver mine.

The Business Building was transferred to a new foundation set back about 100 feet from its original location to make space for a new classroom building. This large teaching studio building includes brass teaching studios and an assembly space intended for master classes and smaller performances.

Curious about the construction progress on the Matthew and Carolyn Bucksbaum Campus? Go to www.bucksbaumcampus.com for a current photo album documenting the process.

And to those of you considering partnering with us, we're not done yet! The AMFS needs your help in completing a world-class campus to complement the talent of our students and artist-faculty each Festival season.  Gifts at any level to our Campus and the endowment will assist us in reaching our Campaign goals and support our work in perpetuity.  To discuss giving opportunities, please contact Alexander Brose, AMFS Vice President for Development,  at (970) 205-5060, or [email protected] .
People Give To People
As we transition to raising funds for our endowment, supporting the people and programs at the AMFS is a top priority. Since the start of this campaign, we have established 34 new named scholarships. Our goal is to secure over $20 million in funding specifically for student scholarships. Being able to offer student financial aid allows us to attract and retain the best young musicians.  Check out our latest video of donors s haring their  motivation to give and of students remarking on their time here at the AMFS thanks to generous support.
Honoring Sharon Isbin
Sharon Isbin teaching
Sharon Isbin sharing the values of classical guitar with a student
This year marks Sharon Isbin's 25th anniversary as a member of our artist-faculty. More than 200 students have studied with Sharon over the last two decades, and all of them have come away from their Aspen summer inspired by her technical mastery, teaching style as well as her passion for the art form. In fact, her influence on the guitar world is evident- she is a recipient of multiple Grammy awards and a subject of an award-winning documentary, Sharon Isbin: Troubadour. 

We would like to honor her dedication to her students at Aspen by adding funds to the endowed H. Paul Gudelsky Scholarship Fund for Guitar, the AMFS's principal source for guitar student scholarships. By growing this scholarship, Sharon will be able to draw the very best young guitarists and make them attractive financial aid offers. Please click here to celebrate Sharon Isbin's silver anniversary with a gift to the H. Paul Gudelsky Scholarship Fund for Guitar at the AMFS.

If you have questions about our student financial aid program and how you can support more students, please contact Alexander Brose, VP for Development at 970-205-5060.
Sustain The Quality Of The Festival 

The Where Dreams Begin Campaign includes a $40 million endowment goal to preserve the life-changing learning opportunities for our students year after year. The student experience is unparalleled and we hope you'll join us in supporting students with a gift to the endowment. Giving opportunities include:

 

Student Financial Aid

To attract and retain the most talented students, we need to offer competitive financial aid packages. Gifts can be made to current scholarships, or new funds can be established in your name.

  • Named full scholarships (tuition, room, and board) - $150,000
  • Named tuition scholarships (merit-based financial aid) - $75,000
  • Or contact Barbara Lish to learn about how you can donate at any level to already established scholarships

Faculty Support

The strength of our artist-faculty is the top reason why most students come to our summer Festival. We wish to celebrate these magnificent individuals with Endowed Chair positions for either teaching or performing artists.

  • Aspen Festival Orchestra Concertmaster- $500,000
  • Aspen Chamber Symphony Concertmaster- $500,000
  • Performing or Teaching Chair Positions - $500,000
  • Full scholarship named in honor of artist-faculty - $150,000
  • Support of an existing financial aid fund named
    for legendary artist-faculty members - any amount

Harris Concert Hall 20th Anniversary Fund 

Joan Harris and the Irving Harris Foundation have established a $1 million matching grant supporting, in perpetuity, continued improvement of the performance quality and comfort of Harris Concert Hall, as well as endowing a fund in support of the Winter Music series in Aspen. Help us match their grant and preserve this iconic performance hall!

  • Named in perpetuity as a Winter Music supporter - $50,000
  • Name a seat in the Harris Concert Hall - $10,000
  • Listing on the donor plaque in Harris Concert Hall - $5,000
Recent Supporters
The Aspen Music Festival and School is thankful for all supporters of the 
Where Dreams Begin  Campaign for the development of the Bucksbaum Campus, additional student scholarships, the expansion of artist-faculty support, and the ability to pursue transformative artistic experiences.
 
Special thanks to our recent supporters of the 
Where Dreams Begin  Campaign:

AMFS Artist-Faculty Fund
Anonymous
Nadine Asin and Thomas van Straaten
Ruth H. Asin
Joseph E. Bacci
From anonymous, in honor of an anonymous friend in the spirit of "the tomb of the unknown donor" - Irving Harris c. 1992
Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass
Susan Beckerman
Amy Margerum-Berg and Gilchrist Berg
Carla and R. Stephen Berry
Beate and Martin Block
Louis and Angela Bremer
Elaine and Harris Cahn
Gary Capetandes
Pamela M. Cunningham
Sheryl and Michael DeGenring
Rebecca Donelson and Robert Blattberg
Nadia and Stephen Drimmer
Antonia Paepcke DuBrul
Maryann and Paul Eachus
Marcy and Leo Edelstein
Eskin Family Foundation
Estate of Harry Hill Lawson
Estate of Loette Goodell
Judith Barnard and Michael Fain
McKim Barnes and Terry Fife
Susan and Michael Grace
Judah S. Gudelsky
Yvonne and Kenneth Hannan
Paula and David Harris
Bunny and John Harrison
Mark Harrison and Eileen Fish
Sue and Bob Helm, in honor of the Hardys and the Bucksbaums
Ann F. and Edward R. Hudson, Jr.
Soledad and Robert Hurst
James Kalaitzis
Linda B. and Eugene Kalnitsky
Gerri Karetsky and Larry Naughton
Jane and Gerald Katcher
Sylvia Blau and Rabbi Samuel Kenner
Kathryn A. King
Ann and Tom Korologos
Barbara Koval
Barbara and Jonathan Lee
Ethel and Allen Levantin
Nancy R. Levi
Andrew Malloy and Debra Gastler
Judith and Rodney Margolis
Andra Marx
Mona Look-Mazza and Tony Mazza
Joyce McGilvray
Mary and Kiefer* Mendenhall
Paula and Herbert R. Molner
Anonymous
Becky and Mike Murray
Stephanie and Michael Naidoff
Fonda and Charles Paterson
Susan Proctor
Kathryn and Richard Rabinow
Helen and Marc Rubenstein
Arlene and Chester Salomon
Julie and Keith Schap
Nancy and Phil Shalen
Shaw Construction
Jane and Larry Sherman
Margaret and Mike Simmons
Elaine Douvas and Robert Sirinek
Eric Smith
Bill Stanley
Lubert and Andrea Stryer
Francine Tansey
Leah and Ralph Wanger
John B. Weaver
Todd Weinman
Marion W. Weiss
Laura Werlin

T he above is a list of gifts received between August 7, 2015 and September 30, 2015. A full list of donors can be found here.