SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC MEETS BERNARD OSHER FOUNDATION $3 MILLION CHALLENGE
Announces Campaign Leadership Committee to Lead Public Phase of Civic Center Relocation
SAN FRANCISCO, September 8, 2003 —  The San Francisco Conservatory of Music has met the Bernard Osher Foundation $3 million challenge before the December 31, 2003 deadline. The $3 million second-leg amount was part of a total $9 million one-for-one matching challenge grant by the late Phyllis Wattis, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation and the Bernard Osher Foundation announced in February 2002. The $2.5 million Phyllis Wattis portion of the challenge was met in November 2002 bringing the total amount of the challenge met to $5.5 million.

Colin Murdoch, President of the Conservatory, says, “I am thrilled that we have met yet another challenge before the deadline; it demonstrates incredible support for our campaign for the new Conservatory at the Civic Center.“ The Conservatory has raised $37.6 million of its $65 million fundraising goal.

Barbro Osher comments, “The Conservatory is a San Francisco musical treasure that has provided superb musical education to young people from San Francisco and around the world for more than 80 years. This project will make a real difference, not only to the students who study at the Conservatory and the audiences who hear the marvelous performances the Conservatory presents, but more importantly it is a commitment to the future of music in the Bay Area. Our foundation is proud to be part of this new era of music education.“

The Conservatory also announced members of its new Campaign Leadership Committee. This committee will spearhead the public phase of the Campaign that began with a groundbreaking ceremony at 50 Oak Street on September 29, 2003. Co-Chairs are Louis de K. Belden, Trustee, Ava Jean Brumbaum, Associate Trustee of the Conservatory and long time supporter, and Carol Casey. Didi Boring, Trustee, will serve as Managing Co-Chair of the committee.

“The new Conservatory of Music at Civic Center is a very important project, both for the Bay Area and nationally. It is a very exciting time to become part of this campaign. This project is creating a world-class educational institution for music in the heart of the city - and I look forward to being part of it,“ comments Carol Casey.

Founded in 1917, San Francisco Conservatory of Music offers music programs to graduate and undergraduate students, preparatory and adult extension classes and community enrichment programs. The Conservatory presents over 360 on-campus public performances a year, reflecting the world-class talent of students, faculty, alumni and visiting artists. The Conservatory is relocating to expanded and refurbished facilities at 50 Oak Street, at the Civic Center. These new facilities will provide students, faculty and the Bay Area community with access to premiere musical resources in the heart of downtown.

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Press Contact:

Carla Pasqualini
Director of Marketing and Communications
415.759.3415
cjp@sfcm.edu