Richard Ortner, Boston Conservatory president from 1998 to 2017, was driven by a vision that the performing arts could transform lives and better the world. The ideals and standard of excellence that he brought to the community are ingrained in the Conservatory’s culture and identity, and are at the core of our work every day: to educate artists who will change the world with agency, compassion, and purpose. Everything Richard did was to support students and help them reach their highest potential. He passed away on October 10, 2019 after a long and courageous battle with cancer, but his spirit and impact live on at the Conservatory—for all who knew him and for future generations of students. A gift to the Richard Ortner Fund for Excellence honors his legacy and supports what Richard loved most and devoted his life to: the Conservatory and our students. Contribute to the Richard Ortner Fund for Excellence.

With the rising cost of higher education, our ability to attract the finest young performers and to remain one of the nation’s leading conservatories is increasingly dependent on how much scholarship support we can offer our students.

 

Scholarship gifts are the single most important support a talented young artist can receive. As a small and specialized school, these contributions help us keep pace with the increasing costs of excellence in performing arts training, such as state-of-the-art facilities, hiring the best faculty in the world, and personalized attention for all students. Currently, more than two-thirds (67 percent) of Conservatory students receive some form of institutional grants and/or scholarship aid—however, this only makes up a small percentage of tuition costs. Show your support by giving today.