PARMA Recordings will be hosting a live-streaming performance by Altius Quartet to benefit the group and Musicians Foundation.
Tune in on July 30, 2020 at 7:00PM EST!
More information can be found here: https://www.parmarecordings.com/event/altius-quartet-07-30-20/
The press release can be viewed below.
This Juneteenth and always, we stand with Black performers, educators, and composers working in all musical genres. To us, music is a sacred, artistic, and uniquely human expression, and the discrimination arising from systemic racism serves only to limit and oppress that expressive ability. The tremendous impact of Black musicians is an undeniable feat and a testament to their artistry and strength. Musicians Foundation has been assisting musicians and their families in need since 1914. As we continue to expand our presence, services, and mission during these challenging times, we welcome feedback as to how we can better reach musicians in all of our communities of color.
Headphone company Status Audio recently pledged 10% of its sales in the coming weeks to be donated to Musicians Foundation’s CV19 Emergency Relief Aid Grant Program, which gives professional musicians modest, one-time grants to help offset work cancellations, postponements, and closures during this difficult time. View Status Audio’s pledge HERE.
Hans Eric Tausig was born on August 23rd, 1931 in Frankfurt, Germany. The only child of Victor Erich & Bertha Ahrenholtz Tausig, he survived the Anschluss in Vienna, the Kindertransport to Holland and fled occupied Europe with his parents to find refuge in the United States. They settled in Peoria, Illinois where Hans graduated high school in 1949. He moved to New York City and initially attended NYU, then ended up volunteering for the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He served in the Army from 1951-1954. His tour of duty included “Operation Castle” at Bikini Atoll. Following the Army, Hans returned to the East Coast to work in the chartering department of American Union Transport in New York City.
Ultimately hired by Philip Brothers/Engelhard to run Metal Transport, their international shipping conglomerate, Hans remained there for 30 years. When he left Engelhard, he formed his own shipping company: Nantucket Navigation. In his business and personal life, Hans always placed great emphasis on honesty and ethics.
After retirement, Hans worked for 2 years as the General Manager of New York Grand Opera. He then went back to school, earning his Bachelor’s Degree from Adelphi University and a Masters in English Literature from NYU.
Music played a strong role in Hans’ life. An accomplished violin & viola player, he joined several orchestras; including a memorable tour of Hungary and Romania which were still behind the Iron Curtain. Hans’ major interest was chamber music, which he played privately and publicly for the majority of his life. A season ticket holder at the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall, Hans delighted in attending operas at the great music halls around the world.
He was President of the Musicians Foundation in New York for over 20 years. Additionally, he was President and part-time auctioneer of the Violin Society of America, founding Board Member and President of The Rare Book School at the University of Virginia, member of the Bohemians, and member of the Grolier Club.
With his wife Eva-Maria, he founded and served on the Board of the Nantucket Community Music Center. He was a life member of the Nantucket Historical Association, the Maria Mitchel Association, and the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum. His memberships in the Artists’ Association of Nantucket, the Nantucket Athenaeum, and the Nantucket Yacht Club brought him great joy. He served on the Board of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation for many years and held an advisory position at the time of his death.
Donations to Musicians Foundation may be made in honor of Mr. Tausig.
Robert Kuehn (1931 – 2019) came to New York City in 1953 to study at the Juilliard School where he received a master’s degree in voice. In his long career as a baritone, he sang everything from Gregorian chant to George Gershwin, performing as a soloist, ensemble and choral singer. He performed with the widest variety of wonderful musical organizations, including the New York Pro Musica, Waverly Consort, NY Philharmonic, Musica Sacra, and Music Before 1800 among others. For four decades he was a member of the small professional choir of Corpus Christi Church and sang there as recently as the beginning of 2019. For over forty years, he was a board member of The Bohemians, our founding organization, and a supporter of Musicians Foundation.
Bob was a good friend and a great supporter of our mission to help musicians in times of need and crisis. We express our condolences to his family and friends and want to highlight his contribution to musicians.
– B.C. Vermeersch, Executive Director
Musicians Foundation has added two new members to its Board of Directors – Jenna Manula Linares and Andrew Malloy. Both have joined the Foundation’s leadership to strengthen its ability to reach more musicians in times of need and increase public awareness of the organization.
Read about Jenna and Andrew below.
Jenna has over 10 years’ experience crafting social media, influencer marketing, and digital strategy for indie beauty, CPG, and retail brands, including Drybar, First Aid Beauty, jane iredale, and the Hain Celestial natural portfolio. She is an expert in balancing emotion and human connectivity, brand messaging, and data-driven insights to drive success across platforms, along with how the paid-owned-earned digital ecosystems work together to drive advocacy and brand trial.
Musicians Foundation is an important organization to my family. My father-in-law has served on the Board of Directors for many years and my husband is an accomplished trombonist. Although I’m not a musician myself, I’m passionate about music, and dedicated to making sure those who weave the soundtracks of our lives can continue to play.
Andrew recently retired from a forty year career in Los Angeles as a freelance trombonist active in all the major orchestras in the greater Los Angeles area, the movie and television recording studios and as a teacher at several universities in Southern California. He graduated from University of Massachusetts , Amherst with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and The Juilliard School with a Master of Music in performance.
I am very excited by the opportunity to serve as a member of the Musicians Foundation Board of Directors. During my forty year career as a freelance studio and orchestral trombonist in Los Angeles I had ample opportunities to observe and experience some of the financial and health challenges that musicians and their families experience with frightening regularity. During my career I was also very active in union activities trying to protect and improve wages and benefit conditions for musicians. I feel this experience and knowledge will help me make a worthwhile contribution to the foundation and its mission.
Take a look at our Fall 2019 newsletter!
Musicians Foundation’s newest Advisory Council member, pianist Spencer Myer, is featured in the January/February 2019 issue of The Piano Magazine – Clavier Companion. The article can be viewed below.