$4M gift to expand U.'s jazz program

Lee, who considers jazz “a lifelong passion,” was inspired to contribute by the $101 million donation from Peter Lewis ’55 and by the University’s new emphasis on bolstering the arts in undergraduate education outlined in a speech by President Tilghman.

A jazz guitarist with a recording studio in his home, Lee said a central part of his Princeton experience was an introductory jazz course taught by Henry Martin that “cemented [his] love [for jazz].”

Anthony Branker ’80, who was also in Martin’s course but was not acquainted with Lee at the time, now heads the University’s jazz program.

“Mr. Lee’s gift will enable us to realize a number of our educational goals that have been in place for sometime now but have been difficult to attainbecause of a lack of funding,” Branker said. The long-term goal, he said, is the creation of a Certificate in Jazz Studies that would be “a marriage between performance, composition and historical study.”

The Anthony H.P. Lee ’79 Fund for the Study of Jazz will be divided between the Department of Music and the Center for African American Studies to encourage the development of both jazz performance and scholarship, Lee explained.

Valerie Smith, a Wilson School professor and director of the Center for African American Studies, said in a University statement that “given the importance of jazz in African American, American and world culture, and the importance of African American culture and African American musicians in jazz culture, study of this musical art form should be a central part of Princeton’s curriculum.”

“Jazz scholarship presents one of the most exciting study opportunities for our students,” Smith said.

The jazz program has attracted top students, Branker said, citing its “reputation as a place to go to pursue jazz study while getting an excellent liberal arts education.”

Funds, however, have been an issue for the program.

“A lot of our funding has had to go toward the cost of performing in Richardson Auditorium, making it difficult to make substantial music and instrument purchases.” Branker said.

A shortage of staff has also been an issue. “The entire future of the program has rested on the shoulders of a single man — Tony Branker,” Tilghman said.

Additional faculty would improve the jazz program, Ioannis Mountziaris ’11 said. Mountziaris is a bass trombonist and member of the Concert Jazz Ensemble, and he was attracted to the University in part by the jazz program.

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“Tony’s really helpful and straightforward, always willing to talk,” Mountziaris said, “but he’s insanely busy, trying to run the jazz program singlehandedly.”

In addition to increasing faculty and diversifying course offerings, Mountziaris also hopes the jazz program will establish relationships with institutions abroad. He cited the classical program’s relationship with the Royal Academy of Music in London, at which students can spend part of an academic year, as an example of what he had in mind.

Tilghman praised Lee’s donation and added that she believes Lewis’ donation has had a “catalytic impact that has allowed lots of people to start thinking about ways they can help [the University].”

Lee’s son Miles, named after the famed jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, is a member of the Class of 2011.