New Scholarships to Benefit Young Artists

As we reflect on President Joseph W. Polisi’s 34 year tenure, we acknowledge among his many achievements his expansion of Juilliard’s scholarship program from $1.7 million in 1984 to its current $25.7 million. More than 90 percent of Juilliard’s young artists receive some sort of scholarship assistance, which would be impossible without the support of our generous donors. This year, Juilliard is honored to welcome five permanently endowed awards and many other new scholarships.

Claire Bechter, an amateur violinist, came from a family with a great interest in music. She made a significant gift to Juilliard through her estate to establish the Charles H. Bechter Scholarship in memory of her father, who was a pianist.

A major gift from an anonymous donor made possible a new scholarship designated for collaborative pianists.

The Harriet and David Colvin Scholarship was created with funds from a charitable gift annuity that the Colvins—who lived near Lincoln Center and enjoyed attending Juilliard performances—established in 2002 and designated for violinists.

The Honorable Philip Kaplan and his wife Barbara, longtime scholarship donors, made a large gift to endow the Philip and Barbara Kaplan Scholarship, which is designated for classical instrumentalists of the highest caliber.

Juilliard received a generous gift from the Ralph M. Hamaker Trust to endow the Leonie Rysanek and Lisa Della Casa Scholarship in Voice. This gift was made in loving memory of two noted singers who were close and longtime friends of Ralph Hamaker.

Through her estate plan, Annette Burford (Diploma ’46, voice) made a provision for the Burford Scholarship, designated for vocal arts students. Burford was a singer who also had a career in investment banking.

The late Felix Calabrese designated the proceeds from a charitable gift annuity with Juilliard to establish the Vincenza Calabrese Scholarship in Voice, in memory of his mother. In 2006, Calabrese had endowed the Michael L. Brunetti Memorial Scholarship in Voice.

Bruce B. Solnick, PhD, a professor emeritus of history at SUNY Albany, made a generous gift establishing the Rose Estelle Sobin Solnick Memorial Scholarship in Piano in tribute to his mother, who was a talented pianist.

Through her estate, Mildred Zucker provided a generous gift for the Mildred and Harry Zucker Scholarship for voice students. Mildred, who studied piano at Juilliard in the 1940s, went on to a long career as a teacher. She met Leonard Bernstein when he was 15 (she was a bit older) and recommended a teacher to him; their friendship lasted a lifetime.

Twin saxophonists Will and Peter Reardon Anderson (BM ’09, MM ’11, jazz) launched an effort to raise funds for a jazz scholarship and donated proceeds from their recent album to establish the Joe Temperley Scholarship in honor of their teacher, a faculty member from the inception of Juilliard Jazz, in 2001, until his death, in 2016.

The Noah and Stella Luna Laffont Scholarship, in honor of another set of twins, was established by an arts-loving family.

Theater enthusiast and new friend to Juilliard Anne Bernstein established the Anne L. Bernstein Scholarship, designated for drama students.

The Malcolm Bersohn Memorial Scholarship, an award for female pianists, was established by Diana Bersohn in her father’s name. Among the members of the very musical Bersohn family was Malcolm’s sister Barbara Bersohn (’37, piano).

The Pre-College Division welcomed new support from James Rowen, who established the Tali Roth Scholarship. The new award honors Roth (MM ’93, guitar), a Pre-College faculty member who is Rowen’s private teacher.

The Manuel Sosa Scholarship was created with a gift from anonymous Pre-College parents in tribute to Sosa (BM’ 91, MM ’94, DMA ’02, composition), a Pre-College faculty member.

The Edward and In-Aie Kang Foundation Scholarship was established by the Kangs, whose son Edward Kang and daughter Michelle Kim attended Pre-College in the 1990s.

Victoria Murray Brand is Juilliard’s associate director of scholarship development

Juilliard welcomes the opportunity to discuss ways in which you can support our educational and artistic activities, including unrestricted gifts, currently funded or endowed scholarships, instrument donation, special project support, bequests, and other planned gifts. For more information, please call the Office of Development and Public Affairs at (212) 799-5000, ext. 278, or visit giving.juilliard.edu