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You have been involved in the Arts & Sciences in Anchorage, Alaska for a long time. What type of involvement have you had?

“As you know, I was on the board of the Anchorage Symphony for about four years in the 1970s. There was a pause in my involvement when we moved to San Francisco and Houston, but when we returned it was central in our lives. Brian and I have always enjoyed the same style of visual art, so we bought pieces over the years. Once they started having First Fridays here in Anchorage, we went religiously. For some people, it’s Monday Night Football. For us? It was First Fridays in Downtown Anchorage. We also love live theater productions, and attended many shows throughout the years. 

I got involved with the Sitka Music Festival, at first as a patron, then as a member of the Sitka Music Festival Board. I was on that board for two terms and I am currently on the Board of the Foundation, the endowment fund for Sitka (Music Festival). I also got involved with the Anchorage Chamber Music Festival. The musicians were young recent graduates and were excellent, enthusiastic musicians, which inspired me to get involved with that organization/event.”

Why are the Arts important to you? 

“That is one of those types of questions that I don’t quite know how to answer. I love classical music, I love the visual arts, I love dance, I love performances. I love it all. Asking this question, makes me think when did universities start offering curriculum and degrees in the Arts? The Arts are areas that should always be in the curriculum, not just science and technology (which are wonderful). I think about how important it is for students to have access to the Arts, not just in the classroom but in the community. This is part of why I am involved with groups like the Anchorage Chamber Music Festival. It is important for the students to have these opportunities, but it is also important for the community and the state. Ultimately? We need the Arts, they are important. I feel that there is something there that speaks to the soul, to the aesthetic of all kinds of people and that shouldn’t be lost. The question: why is it important to you? That’s really hard to say. It’s kind of important because it is.”

You mentioned students and the Arts at the university. What has your involvement with UAA been like?

“I started out involved with the UAA Consortium Library, and wasn’t involved again until I got involved with the Music Department. The first time I came to the Recital Hall was for an introductory concert that Mari Hahn put on, as she had just joined the faculty. The recital hall was fantastic, the acoustics were great, the ambiance was right. I thought that this was a great place for music concerts to be performed. Throughout the years, I have met so many members of the faculty, people like Timothy Smith, whom I knew because he served on the symphony board with Brian.” 

You have donated to the university for many years, but this new Davies Meyers Professor of Music is your biggest investment to date. What inspired your gift to Davies Meyers Professor of Music and what do you hope your gift accomplishes? 

“I started giving to the university, to the debate program actually. When Sitka (Music Festival) started performing at UAA, I started contributing an equal amount to the music department. I was glad to see the facility, and to see the music program growing. While I do not have all the money in the world, I can contribute and so I do.

I made the investment for the Davies-Meyers Professor of Music, because I feel that a strong music department at UAA helps keep the Anchorage Symphony and other Anchorage music groups strong. I wanted to invest in something that had roots, but needed support to keep going in the future. There is considerable work to open a new faculty position. We talked through various options, and this proposal - the Davies-Meyers Professor of Music - was the most doable. 

It was something that I could manage financially, and it would allow other people to be involved.” 

You mentioned other people being involved in the investment, Kevin and Doré Meyers. Can you share a little about how the Meyers became involved and the partnership there? 

“When we were talking about the idea, I knew that it would be easier to have someone split the finances. I immediately thought of Kevin Meyers. Kevin and my husband were on the Anchorage Symphony Board for years together, in addition to knowing that he and Doré had been big supporters of the symphony every year. I thought he might see the value in this prospect, and he did. We met with current Music Department Chair, Grant Cochran, and he conveyed a contagious enthusiasm for this effort. The idea is that our interests align in this effort. Kevin and Doré see value in this investment, for the students and for the Arts in Anchorage.” 

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

“This is a little off topic, but if I could keep the energy, I would really like to get together with some of the other people that have shown support for the Arts at UAA. I think we could band together and promote to the legislator about efforts like this new professorship. There is always the possibility of getting additional funds, perhaps something more general for the Arts. There are other major universities that have major private funds, which allows them to do more. The more that UAA can have supporters and private funding from the community, the better. There are people in our community who want to see the Arts continue and to be strongly represented at the University.”

 

Thank you Sharon, for your time, your thoughts, and your continued support of the Arts at UAA! If you agree with Sharon that the arts are important and worth investing in, we want you to know about the opportunity to become a Friend of the Arts at UAA. Please read more about this new Membership Program in the next article.