Dear Friends,

Music is universal, a sharing experience, and a gift to humanity. So precious is this gift, that we must cherish and nurture it from one generation to the next. In this spirit, the Foundation takes pride in honoring the ideals of my late son Andrew De Grado.

Andrew's love of music and his generous nature drove him to encourage the same passion and excellence he expected not only of himself, but also in the young students he encountered as a professor at the University of Illinois. The essence of his philosophy is thoughtfully expressed in a paragraph taken from his personal correspondence.

"It is my ambition to continue my performing and teaching career as it gives me tremendous satisfaction to impart my knowledge and watch the development and progress of young pianists."

The Andrew George De Grado Foundation continues to take pride in passing on Andrew’s legacy through piano competitions, piano recitals, and benefit concerts with renowned artists. Over the years, the Foundation sponsored very successful piano competitions and Winners’ Recitals for New Jersey pianists ages 11 through 18 at Kean University. Also, the Foundation has sponsored numerous benefit concerts with renowed artists: violinist Joshua Bell; pianist/narrator Richard Glazier; pianist/composer Ian Hobson; pianists Carol Ferri, Anna Klein and Simon Mulligan; clarinetist Marianne Breneman; flutist John Phillip Rush.

Recently, sixty young musicians participated in the two Hurricane Relief Recitals, which our Foundation along with the cooperation of Piano Teachers Society of America (PTSA) held at Drew University. The net proceeds received were sent by our Foundation to the American Red Cross for the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.

Our thanks go out to all the many musicians, patrons of the arts, and businesses that have donated their time and money to the Andrew George De Grado Foundation, Inc. Your contributions will continue to make it possible for the Foundation to seek out opportunities to showcase New Jersey's many gifted young students studying music and/or the fine arts.

Cordially,

Libby De Grado-Condo
President