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 Print this article FMS FEATURE...  November 21, 2006 The Henry Mancini Institute to Conclude Its Ten-Year Run Highly respected non-profit group for music education will be missed by many LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ – After ten years of providing fully funded annual scholarships to over 800 professional young musicians and hands-on instructional and live-performance music education programs to over 30,000 students in Los Angeles-area schools, the Henry Mancini Institute (HMI) will officially close its headquarters and cease operations effective December 31, 2006, it was announced today by Ginny Mancini, President of the Board of Directors, and widow of the legendary composer. According to Mrs. Mancini, "After ten incredible years of nurturing, mentoring and introducing hundreds of emerging young musicians to the world, our Board of Directors took a hard look at the future, and the ominous landscape of funding for the arts. The decision to close was difficult, yet realistic in assessing the rising costs and our commitment to maintain the level of excellence and integrity this organization was founded on." She added, "I'm thankful to find comfort and a sense of closure in that Henry Mancini's legacy lives on in over 800 alumni who have realized his effect." The Institute is currently in discussions with other organizations in the hopes of continuing its very successful in-school and after-school music- education programs scheduled for the current academic year in nearly 40 schools. Teachers and mentors of that program, along with dozens of other HMI alumni living in the Los Angeles area, remain available for professional performances. The Henry Mancini Institute was founded in 1997 by composer/conductor Jack Elliott and was dedicated to the legacy of Henry Mancini, one of the 20th Century's most influential and accomplished composers. Mancini's lifelong commitment to excellence in both music and education was the foundation upon which the Institute continued to thrive throughout the past ten years. HMI Artistic Director Patrick Williams said, "I am extremely proud of all that we were able to accomplish in the ten years of the Henry Mancini Institute. It was a privilege working with some of the best musicians in the world and extremely rewarding to see the Institute's impact on young musicians' lives. The Henry Mancini Institute was truly unique and will be sorely missed." Added HMI Executive Director Dan Carlin, "At this heartbreaking moment, I want to emphasize my admiration and gratitude to our staff and to the HMI faculty, mentors, musician-participants, and, especially, to the hundreds of individual donors, foundations, and volunteers, without whose faith and support the Henry Mancini Institute would never have achieved its unparalleled greatness." Under the collaborative leadership of Ginny Mancini, Artistic Director Patrick Williams, and Executive Director Daniel Carlin, the Institute has provided hands-on instructional and live-performance music programs to Los Angeles-area primary and secondary schools. In addition, each year, 85 professional musicians were provided fully funded scholarships, including room and board on the UCLA campus, to learn from – and perform with – some of today's most widely respected musical masters through the HMI Summer Education for Emerging Professional Musicians. This program culminated in the annual HMI Free Summer Music Festival, offering the public free access to the arts while providing performance opportunities for the musicians of the summer education program.  |
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