MEDIA CONTACT: Linda Holtz
561-297-0159, lholtz@fau.edu
BOCA RATON, FL (December 17, 2007) – Longtime Florida Atlantic University donors and Boca Raton residents Peter and Kerry LoBello have demonstrated their commitment to FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters with a $50,000 gift. The LoBellos, friends of the University since 1999, are FAU Football Founders, sponsors of the FAU Marching Band, and have given generously to the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
With this most recent gift, the LoBellos have earmarked $40,000 to FAU’s commercial music program, within the department of music of FAU’s School of the Arts. Headed by award-winning composer, arranger and producer Michael Zager, the commercial music program provides FAU students with a concentration in music production, record promotion and marketing, and audio recording. The program has become known for its student-operated, faculty supervised record label, Hoot/Wisdom Recordings®. The recording studio, which is located on the Boca Raton campus, functions as a hands-on “laboratory” for students who seek careers in the recording industry.
With FAU faculty and students providing the talent, Hoot/Wisdom Recordings® has thus far produced eight CDs that have been publicly distributed. Thanks to the LoBello gift, the FAU record label has been able to produce, manufacture and market four of the CDs. These CDs are available for purchase at the Boca Raton Barnes & Noble Booksellers, on major Internet music stores such as Amazon.com, at the commercial music program office, and at concert performances by the featured artists.
The LoBello gift will also be designated to bring scholars-in-residence to FAU. These scholars will facilitate workshops for students. The remaining $10,000 of the gift has been used to renovate the University Theatre on the Boca Raton campus.
“We are grateful for the generosity of the LoBellos who understand our program’s mission. Their gift has helped Hoot/Wisdom Recordings® mold its reputation as a producer of music,” said Zager. “The commercial music program prepares gifted musicians and music executives to enter the highly competitive music industry.”
Peter LoBello is a member of the FAU Foundation Board. He also serves on the advisory board for the Boca Raton campus and for the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Kerry LoBello is an FAU community partner for the Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. Her efforts help raise awareness of the College as she regularly brings people to the campus for tours.
“Kerry and I are delighted, by making this gift, to reach out to the College of Arts and Letters,” said Peter LoBello. “FAU has so many wonderful programs to support. From football to engineering to the arts, FAU speaks to our interests. We feel fortunate to have found a place in this growing university and its future.”
For more information on the commercial music program in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, contact Fookloy Ford, program assistant in the commercial music program, at 561-297-0600 or fford@fau.edu.
- FAU -
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses strategically located along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts ten colleges: College of Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science, the Barry Kaye College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate College, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.
