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Historic Gift from Sarah Coade Mandell
and Peter Mandell
This December, we are honored to announce the largest gift in the American Youth Symphony's 52-year history: one million dollars from Peter Mandell and Sarah Coade Mandell.
This donation supports the AYS Strategic Plan, and will allow us to deepen our programmatic scope and community outreach efforts. This landmark gift will also fund the Korngold Commission Project (inspired by the Korngold Violin Concerto), which will allow AYS to commission a prominent film composer to create a new work for solo instrument and orchestra, every one to two seasons. Not only will this project generate exciting new works that will live far beyond their debut with AYS, they will also create opportunities for mentorship between world-renowned soloists and rising stars within the greater Los Angeles community.
Sarah Coade Mandell and Peter Mandell, who first met as students at the Idyllwild School of Music and Arts (ISOMATA), are both classically trained musicians and long-time supporters of the American Youth Symphony. Peter, a bassoonist, investor, and Managing Partner of QRMS, LLC joined our Board of Directors in 2012, and his tenure as Board Secretary has seen a 54% growth in revenue and 110% increase in concert attendance. Sarah, a cellist and double bassist, and Managing Partner of a family investment and financial services office, joined the AYS Advisory Council in 2015, alongside industry luminaries such as conductor and composer, Esa-Pekka Salonen; violinist, Sarah Chang; NY Phil’s VP of Artistic Planning, Ed Yim; and pianist, Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Sarah and Peter may be best known to the classical music community for founding The Mandell Collection of Southern California, which lends instruments to young musicians, helping to further their professional studies and careers. The Mandells are also the founders of “Hardly Strictly Classical,” a concert series offered free to the public. Hardly Strictly Classical has sponsored American Youth Symphony special performances featuring Sarah Chang (2015), and Mandell Collection Artist Simone Porter (2016).
Their commitment to supporting young musicians and presenting free concerts aligns so clearly with the mission of the American Youth Symphony, it is no wonder they count among our most loyal and generous supporters. We could not be more grateful for their leadership, passion, and inspiring support.
Thank you, Sarah and Peter!
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