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MEDIA CONTACT: Terri Berns
561-297-1164, tberns@fau.edu
FAU Libraries Announces New Fund to Support Jewish Music Collection at Sold Out Klezmer Company Concert
"The Bess Myerson Jewish Music Education and Performance Fund" Created by Former Miss America, Popular Television Personality, Public Servant and Philanthropist
BOCA RATON, FL (March 21, 2005) - As a result of a generous gift, the Florida Atlantic University Libraries has established the "Bess Myerson Jewish Music Education and Performance Fund." This support will help broaden the use of the Libraries' extensive Jewish Music Collections of vocal and instrumental music by cultivating audiences through a wide range of educational outreach programs and performances.
The news of the Myerson gift was announced by Dr. William Miller, director of FAU Libraries, at the eighth annual Klezmer Company concert. Benefiting the Libraries' Molly S. Fraiberg Collections, the concert drew almost 2,400 people to FAU's Boca Raton campus. The Klezmer company is FAU Libraries' professional ensemble-in-residence, directed by Aaron Kula, FAU Libraries resident scholar in music.
"Since I moved to Florida, I have been searching for a place to support - one that would nourish my interests both as a classically trained musician and with my deep roots in Jewish culture," said Myerson. "I was captivated by Aaron Kula's superlative performances with the Klezmer Company ensemble and delighted by the extensive Judaica collection at FAU Libraries."
Myerson, the first and only Jewish woman to become Miss America, went on to become a popular television personality, public servant and philanthropist. She is a consistent supporter of the arts, well known for her fight against racial and religious bigotry and for being a consumer protection advocate.
Aaron Kula joined the FAU faculty in 1997, and in the fall of 2003, he was appointed Resident Scholar in Music at the FAU Wimberly Library, where his activities involve archiving, lecturing and performing. He is excited about the opportunities made possible by the new fund. "The Bess Myerson Jewish Music Education and Performance Fund will afford us the opportunity to create activities that directly relate to one of the most significant Jewish music collections in the nation. I am honored that Ms. Myerson chose to make FAU's collection as the center of an initiative to challenge and inspire Jewish music programming. I am confident that we will continue to capture the attention of the international music community," said Kula.
Others interested in Jewish music continuity may also contribute to the Libraries' new fund. "It was extraordinarily thoughtful of Bess Myerson to establish a fund to support Jewish music education and performance here at the university. With her involvement and the generosity of others, we can create programs to benefit future generations of students and scholars - programs that would have been beyond our means before Ms. Myerson's patronage," said Dr. William Miller, director of FAU libraries.
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