Our Crowdfunding Groups
In celebration of the 36-year tenure and impact of one of our most beloved faculty members, Mr. Gary Pratt, we invite you to join us in matching gift campaign to expand and enhance the Gary Pratt Jazz Scholarship Endowment. For this short period of time, all donations to grow this endowment will be matched dollar-for-dollar by donations from other Jazz Studies alumni.
Gary Pratt has led a distinguished career as a music educator, performer, conductor, adjudicator and arranger, and co-directed CSUN’s renowned Jazz Studies Program. During his 36-year tenure as a member of the music faculty, he has served as chairman of the CSUN Wind Area and Director of Orchestras. Gary also taught courses in jazz musicianship, directed the Studio and Lab Jazz Ensembles, jazz repertoire, jazz combos, and directed, composed, and arranged for "NuVeau," the University’s avant-garde jazz ensemble, in addition to the personal instruction he provided in his private bass studio.
Mr. Pratt retired at the end of the Spring 2019 semester after this long and storied career at CSUN. However, though he is no longer teaching, his legacy will continue to have an impact on future jazz studies students through the Gary Pratt Jazz Studies Scholarship Fund, created through his generosity.
In celebration of the impact he had at CSUN and the generations of Jazz musicians that he has helped grow and develop, we kindly ask you to donate to this important scholarship fund to help build this fund to perpetuate the impact of our of our most beloved faculty members. Right now, a number of Gary’s former students have offered to match your donations to this fund to a maximum of $25,000.
More and more, students studying Jazz at CSUN face greater burdens in the pursuit of their degrees and developing their musical skills. From changing socio-economic statuses, the increased cost of food and lodging, and the need to work multiple jobs, these barriers directly impact our students and their goals. This important fund will lessen these hurdles for students, allowing them to spend more time and energy practicing, rehearsing, and focusing on their educational and musical goals.
Please join us in securing Gary’s legacy and impact on generations of students through this endowment. The future musicians and scholars you will help achieve their dreams thank you.
