Donors, UD Chorale connect
Delaware Diamonds Society joins Boston Alumni Club for dinner, performance
8:59 a.m., March 3, 2016--Boston Alumni Club members welcomed the University of Delaware Chorale to their city on the evening of Feb. 11 for a performance at Emmanuel Church, preceded by an exclusive dinner hosted by UD’s Delaware Diamonds Society to thank generous Bostonians for their ongoing leadership support of the University.
“It was a pleasure to host Boston-area Delaware Diamonds Society members,” said Ruth Rosenberg, director of development for leadership annual giving and reunions. “We understand it can be challenging for them to come to campus as often as our local members so it was important for us to tell them in person how grateful we are for their support and leadership.”
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The restaurant was buzzing with activity as Delaware Diamonds Society members shed winter gear and squeezed through crowds to make their way to the back of the restaurant to greet fellow Blue Hens. Members enjoyed a three-course meal of seasonal dishes in the private dining area that included the restaurant’s wine cellar.
Two UD Chorale members, Thomas Kuchler and Amanda Livesey, both of the Class of 2016, attended the dinner to share their experiences.
Kuchler, recipient of the Claudia and Richard Fischer Music Scholarship, recounted a fateful meeting with the Fischers while traveling in France. A senior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in music education, he was attending a UD Chorale symposium in France when he noticed the donors’ names on the event roster. Later, he spotted them dining in a local restaurant.
“I introduced myself and told them that I had been the beneficiary of their scholarship for the past few years,” said Kuchler. “They were overjoyed to meet me and learn of the impact of their generosity firsthand. I felt connected to them on many different levels.”
Without their generosity, college may have been out of reach for Kuchler. “I come from a family with limited resources. As a first generation college student I had to figure out the many nuances of paying for college on my own,” he explained. “I am so grateful for people like the Fischers.”
After dinner, guests gathered at Emmanuel Church for a performance by the UD Chorale. As the concert came to a close, the crowd joined in singing the alma mater.
“What was most moving for me was standing and singing ‘hail to thee proud Delaware’ with the chorale and fellow alumni. That was something I didn’t know I could do,” said Delaware Diamonds Society member Richard Haines, of the Class of 1957.
Haines, who sang with the UD Chorale in the 1950s, has seen tremendous change within the chorale and the University.
“I probably wouldn’t get in the chorale today, as they are a bit more selective,” Haines said jokingly. “It was good then but now it is world famous. It’s been wonderful seeing the University grow and be recognized for its outstanding programs.”
Meant to connect alumni and supporters with the University, the evening’s performance also served to link current students to the alumni experience.
“Being a part of the UD Chorale has been a huge part of my college experience. Every member of this ensemble gives everything they have to every musical moment,” said Amanda Livesey, of the Class of 2016. “Sharing our concert with Boston alumni and the Delaware Diamonds Society reinforced for me that being a Blue Hen is more than just a four-year endeavor.”
While the evening was frigid with record low temperatures, guests made their way home warmed by their Blue Hen connection.
About the Delaware Diamonds Society
Established in 1974, the Delaware Diamonds Society is a recognition society devoted to encouraging exemplary levels of financial support among alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and friends of the University of Delaware. It pays tribute to those who cumulatively contribute $1,000 or more annually.
About the Boston Alumni Club
The Boston Alumni Club works to engage active alumni in the Boston metro area by hosting events open to alumni and family members. The club promotes lifelong relationships with the University of Delaware opportunities to give back to UD by volunteering and through philanthropic support. Click here to learn more about UD’s regional alumni clubs.
About the Office of Development and Alumni Relations
The Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) engages donors, alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff and students in a lifelong relationship and fosters a tradition of philanthropy to strengthen the University’s legacy as one of the great public institutions of higher education in America.
Article by Nadine Sabater