[NEohioPAL]Oberlin College Announces $5 million Gift for Jazz Studies Facility

Tue Nov 29 08:57:38 PST 2005

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Media Contact Only:
Marci Janas
Director of Conservatory Media Relations
440-775-8328
marci.janas at oberlin.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oberlin College President Nancy Dye Announces $5 million Gift
for Jazz Studies Facility

OBERLIN, OHIO (Nov. 21, 2005) =97 Oberlin College President Nancy Dye =
has=20
announced that Cleveland businessman Stewart Kohl and his wife, Donna,=20=

recently committed to facilitate the funding of a $5 million gift to=20
the College. Stewart, a 1977 graduate of Oberlin College, is a managing=20=

partner of The Riverside Company. The gift will enable the College to=20
construct a new facility for the Jazz Studies Program.

=93Stewart and Donna=92s tremendously generous commitment is a testament =
to=20
their steadfast belief in the collaborative value of higher education=20
and the arts,=94 President Dye said. =93On behalf of our faculty, staff,=20=

students, and alumni, I am honored to thank them for their support.=94

Dean of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music David Stull said the=20=

gift will be a transformative event for Oberlin College. =93The Jazz=20
Studies Program, under the visionary leadership of Professor Wendell=20
Logan, has long been a flagship department of the highest caliber in=20
desperate need of adequate space,=94 Stull said. =93Stewart and Donna,=20=

through their remarkable generosity, have not only launched a project=20
to address this need, but have also invested in the education of future=20=

generations of students at Oberlin.=94

=93I believe history is shaped by a confluence of events and that there=20=

are important moments along the way,=94 Stewart Kohl said. =93This is =
one=20
of them for Oberlin College.

=93Oberlin College has great leadership,=94 Kohl said, in explaining the=20=

various reasons for his and Donna=92s commitment to the College. =93With=20=

Robert Lemle as our new Board Chair, Nancy Dye as our inspiring and=20
proven President, and David Stull as a young and bright light in the=20
Conservatory we are exceedingly well run. With our new Strategic Plan,=20=

the institution has renewed its dedication to providing educational=20
excellence and a total experience for its students that is unmatched.=94

Kohl added, =93While neither Donna nor I are musicians =97 as a student =
at=20
Oberlin I rarely set foot in the Conservatory =97 we do enjoy music as=20=

patrons and believe in its powerful civilizing role. Since joining the=20=

Oberlin College Board of Trustees, I=92ve come to appreciate the=20
significance of the Conservatory. It is best in class =96 worldwide. And=20=

it is a distinguishing factor in and a major contributor to the Oberlin=20=

experience.

=93For this reason, the modernizing of the Conservatory has risen to=20
become Oberlin=92s number one capital priority since the building of its=20=

world class Science Center. And providing a proper home for the Jazz=20
Studies Program within the Conservatory has become a top priority.=20
Under the leadership of the renowned Wendell Logan, the jazz program is=20=

one of our most popular majors at Oberlin and contributes significantly=20=

to the richness and diversity of the Conservatory and the overall=20
campus. Finally, jazz as an art form is a uniquely American gift to the=20=

world, of which we should be especially proud in these times when not=20
all of America=92s gifts are so beloved.

=93Donna and I believe that Oberlin has an important role to play in=20
Northeast Ohio, America, and in fact the world. And to play its role,=20
Oberlin needs a larger endowment and more support from its board and=20
alumni. We are hopeful that this gift will inspire others to similarly=20=

reach in their giving and perhaps trigger the next capital campaign. In=20=

part for selfish reasons, we=92ve come to see the wisdom of giving=20
earlier in our lives. We expect to be kicking around for at least=20
another fifty years and so we will be able to enjoy meeting and hearing=20=

the young musicians who will pass through this building. Hopefully=20
we=92ll be able to follow their achievements and accomplishments through=20=

their careers. This was a strong motivation for our gift of the=20
Neuroscience Teaching Laboratory (at Oberlin College) in honor of my=20
parents.

=93Finally, but most importantly, one of my closest friends is Mel=20
Litoff. He and his wife, Phyllis Weisbart, owned the Sweet Basil Jazz=20
Club in Greenwich Village during its heyday as one of the world=92s most=20=

important jazz venues. Phyllis was an astute club owner, gifted=20
musician, and loving mother, grandmother, and wife. In 2002 Phyllis=20
died from brain cancer and the new building in Oberlin will be=20
dedicated in her memory.=94

The Conservatory incorporated jazz into its curriculum in 1972 and=20
began offering a major in Jazz Studies in 1989. The program prepares=20
students for careers as professional jazz musicians and for advanced=20
study in jazz. The Jazz Studies faculty includes composers and=20
performers who maintain active jazz careers in addition to teaching=20
lessons and classes and coaching ensembles.

Stewart Kohl and The Riverside Company founder Bela Szigethy =9177 have=20=

been instrumental in the development of Oberlin=92s Business Scholars=20
program. An innovative winter term program, it was specifically=20
designed to give students the foundation of skills, knowledge, and=20
contacts necessary to successfully compete for jobs and internships in=20=

finance and consulting. Pairing a comprehensive liberal arts education=20=

with focused practical experience is an unparalleled way to prepare=20
students for the demands of the business world.

-	### -

Marci Janas
Director of Conservatory Media Relations
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
39 West College Street
Oberlin, OH  44074
www.oberlin.edu/con
(P) 440-775-8328
(F) 440-775-5457
marci.janas at oberlin.edu

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<fontfamily><param>Helvetica</param>

</fontfamily><flushright>Media Contact Only:

Marci Janas

Director of Conservatory Media Relations

440-775-8328

=
<underline><color><param>0000,0000,FFFD</param>marci.janas at oberlin.edu</co=
lor></underline>

<underline>

</underline></flushright><underline>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

</underline><center><bold>Oberlin College President Nancy Dye
Announces $5 million Gift=20

for Jazz Studies Facility

</bold></center><bold><bigger>

</bigger></bold>OBERLIN, OHIO (Nov. 21, 2005)<bigger> =97</bigger>
Oberlin College President Nancy Dye has announced that Cleveland
businessman Stewart Kohl and his wife, Donna, recently committed to
facilitate the funding of a $5 million gift to the College. Stewart, a
1977 graduate of Oberlin College, is a managing partner of The
Riverside Company. The gift will enable the College to construct a new
facility for the Jazz Studies Program.<fontfamily><param>Times New =
Roman</param>

</fontfamily>=93Stewart and Donna=92s tremendously generous commitment =
is
a testament to their steadfast belief in the collaborative value of
higher education and the arts,=94 President Dye said. =93On behalf of =
our
faculty, staff, students, and alumni, I am honored to thank them for
their support.=94<fontfamily><param>Times New Roman</param>

</fontfamily>Dean of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music David
Stull said the gift will be a transformative event for Oberlin
College. =93The Jazz Studies Program, under the visionary leadership of
Professor Wendell Logan, has long been a flagship department of the
highest caliber in desperate need of adequate space,=94 Stull said.
=93Stewart and Donna, through their remarkable generosity, have not only
launched a project to address this need, but have also invested in the
education of future generations of students at =
Oberlin.=94<fontfamily><param>Times New Roman</param>

</fontfamily>=93I believe history is shaped by a confluence of events
and that there are important moments along the way,=94 Stewart Kohl
said. =93This is one of them for Oberlin =
College.<fontfamily><param>Times New Roman</param>

</fontfamily>=93Oberlin College has great leadership,=94 Kohl said, in
explaining the various reasons for his and Donna=92s commitment to the
College. =93With Robert Lemle as our new Board Chair, Nancy Dye as our
inspiring and proven President, and David Stull as a young and bright
light in the Conservatory we are exceedingly well run. With our new
Strategic Plan, the institution has renewed its dedication to
providing educational excellence and a total experience for its
students that is unmatched.=94

Kohl added, =93While neither Donna nor I are musicians =97 as a student =
at
Oberlin I rarely set foot in the Conservatory =97 we do enjoy music as
patrons and believe in its powerful civilizing role. Since joining the
Oberlin College Board of Trustees, I=92ve come to appreciate the
significance of the Conservatory. It is best in class =96 worldwide. And
it is a distinguishing factor in and a major contributor to the
Oberlin experience.

=93For this reason, the modernizing of the Conservatory has risen to
become Oberlin=92s number one capital priority since the building of its
world class Science Center. And providing a proper home for the Jazz
Studies Program within the Conservatory has become a top priority.
Under the leadership of the renowned Wendell Logan, the jazz program
is one of our most popular majors at Oberlin and contributes
significantly to the richness and diversity of the Conservatory and
the overall campus. Finally, jazz as an art form is a uniquely
American gift to the world, of which we should be especially proud in
these times when not all of America=92s gifts are so beloved.

=93Donna and I believe that Oberlin has an important role to play in
Northeast Ohio, America, and in fact the world. And to play its role,
Oberlin needs a larger endowment and more support from its board and
alumni. We are hopeful that this gift will inspire others to similarly
reach in their giving and perhaps trigger the next capital campaign.
In part for selfish reasons, we=92ve come to see the wisdom of giving
earlier in our lives. We expect to be kicking around for at least
another fifty years and so we will be able to enjoy meeting and
hearing the young musicians who will pass through this building.
Hopefully we=92ll be able to follow their achievements and
accomplishments through their careers. This was a strong motivation
for our gift of the Neuroscience Teaching Laboratory (at Oberlin
College) in honor of my parents.

=93Finally, but most importantly, one of my closest friends is Mel
Litoff. He and his wife, Phyllis Weisbart, owned the Sweet Basil Jazz
Club in Greenwich Village during its heyday as one of the world=92s most
important jazz venues. Phyllis was an astute club owner, gifted
musician, and loving mother, grandmother, and wife. In 2002 Phyllis
died from brain cancer and the new building in Oberlin will be
dedicated in her memory.=94

The Conservatory incorporated jazz into its curriculum in 1972 and
began offering a major in Jazz Studies in 1989. The program prepares
students for careers as professional jazz musicians and for advanced
study in jazz. The Jazz Studies faculty includes composers and
performers who maintain active jazz careers in addition to teaching
lessons and classes and coaching ensembles.

Stewart Kohl and The Riverside Company founder Bela Szigethy =9177 have
been instrumental in the development of Oberlin=92s Business Scholars
program. An innovative winter term program, it was specifically
designed to give students the foundation of skills, knowledge, and
contacts necessary to successfully compete for jobs and internships in
finance and consulting. Pairing a comprehensive liberal arts education
with focused practical experience is an unparalleled way to prepare
students for the demands of the business world.

-	### -

<center>

</center>Marci Janas

Director of Conservatory Media Relations

Oberlin Conservatory of Music

39 West College Street

Oberlin, OH  44074

www.oberlin.edu/con

(P) 440-775-8328

(F) 440-775-5457

marci.janas at oberlin.edu

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