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The Crossing receives $200,000 gift from Thomas Kasdorf
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Our long-time friend, advocate, and supporter, Tom Kasdorf of Kalamazoo, wanted to make a gesture that affirmed his belief in what we are doing - how we think about new music and performance and the contributions we are trying to make to the choral canon.
And, he surprised us with an extraordinary gift: $200,000 of unrestricted funding to support our 2019-2020 season, with commissions of Edie Hill, Tawnie Olsen, Gavin Bryars, Daniel Felsenfeld, Aaron Helgeson, Gabriel Jackson, and Michael Gordon. We'll be at Crane Arts Icebox, the Met Cloisters, the Hal Prince and Zellerbach Theaters at the Annenberg Center, Holy Trinity Rittenhouse Square, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Mann Center, and, of course, our home at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. And Tom's generosity will be with us at every premiere and on every stage through this extraordinary gift and nod of confidence in the health and sustainability of what it is we aim to accomplish.
Of his gift, Tom says:
I believe in the power of choral music to bring people together, share experiences, and consider a better world, so I am thrilled to become a supporter of The Crossing. The Crossing's commitment to commission, perform, and record socially-relevant new music is changing the genre's purpose and meaning in the 21st century and influencing a new generation of artists. I hope others will consider joining me in support of The Crossing's evocative work as one of America's most unique and important musical ensembles.
In new music, in non-profit art-making, in professional choral singing, there is always a need for greater resources, more donors, larger gifts as we make, dream, and plan. Tom's exceptional generosity not only helps us this season, but will also serve
to sustain our work in seasons to come.
He
hopes, as do we, that his gift inspires many others to step up and show the same confidence in our art and work. Please consider supporting us as we eye the approaching close of the year and the promise that 2020 holds, inspired by our artists, by Tom, and by you - all of whom are doing amazing work!
Be. Like. Tom.
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| The Crossing with Tom Kasdorf in February 2019, after a tour performance at University of Notre Dame, and just minutes before receiving the news of our 2nd Grammy Award. |
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Thomas Kasdorf is a conductor and music educator living in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His distinguished career includes decades-long positions at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Central High School, Evanston Township High School, Loy Norrix High School, and First Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo. Tom served for 30 years as leader of the Kalamazoo Singers, preparing the chorus for performances with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theatre, and upon his
retirement
in 2009 was named "Music Director and Conductor Emeritus" of the ensemble. He is a recipient of the Community Medal of Arts from the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, and is a graduate of Northwestern University and Indiana University. Tom is the benefactor of the Thomas Kasdorf Scholarship in Choral Music at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music.
(With a special shout of thanks to The Team Tom folks at Arcadia Investment Management Corp and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation!)
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