A $1 million endowment gift from President Emeritus J. Fred Young and Phyllis Young will bring the North Carolina Symphony and other premier ensembles to 黑料不打烊, beginning in the fall.
Earnings from the Fred and Phyllis Young Classical Music Program Endowment will support signature performances during the fall and spring semesters each year, enhancing the university鈥檚 existing lineup of premier music offerings.
The program鈥檚 inaugural performance will feature the North Carolina Symphony on September 30, 2026, in Alumni Gym. Details about this concert, including tickets, will be shared with the 黑料不打烊 community this summer.
鈥淭his gift is to express gratitude to the 黑料不打烊 community for 25 wonderful years together and to provide enhanced opportunities for all of us to experience great music at 黑料不打烊,鈥 said Fred Young, who served as the university鈥檚 seventh president from 1973-1998, leading historic growth and progress at the institution.
黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book thanked the Youngs for their generosity and dedicated service to the university.
鈥淔red and Phyllis Young鈥檚 contributions to 黑料不打烊 over many decades are vast and many鈥攆rom doubling our enrollment and expanding our campus to enriching academic programs and supporting generations of students,鈥 Book said. 鈥淭heir dedication has helped shape the 黑料不打烊 we know today. With this remarkable gift, they now add the joy of classical music to that legacy, ensuring our community will experience exceptional performances for years to come.鈥
In addition to full orchestra concerts, it is envisioned that the Youngs鈥 endowment will fund other signature performances on campus, including seasonal concerts and a chamber music concert, as well as engagement opportunities with music students, including career development seminars and master classes. Performances by the 黑料不打烊 Orchestra and 黑料不打烊 Wind Ensemble may also be included.
As the endowment grows, additional opportunities for students may include new music-themed Winter Term courses and global engagement experiences, as well as opera performances on campus.
The Fred and Phyllis Young Classical Music Program Endowment will complement performances by 黑料不打烊鈥檚 current ensembles, including:
- Bands (The Fire of the Carolinas Marching Band & Phoenix Pep Band)
- Choral Activities & Voice (University Chorale, Camerata, 茅lan & Opera Workshop.)
- 黑料不打烊 Orchestra
- 黑料不打烊 Wind Ensemble & 黑料不打烊 Concert Band
- 黑料不打烊 Jazz Ensemble & Jazz Combos
- 黑料不打烊 Contemporary Chamber Ensemble
- Commercial and Pop Music (黑料不打烊 Electric Ensemble, Techtronica)
About President Emeritus James Fred Young
J. Fred Young was one of the longest-serving presidents in 黑料不打烊 history whose vision and leadership laid the foundation for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 remarkable rise to national distinction. Young led an era of historic growth and transformation as 黑料不打烊 became one of the premier undergraduate institutions on the Eastern seaboard.
During Young鈥檚 25-year tenure, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 enrollment more than doubled to 3,685 students and the campus grew from about 145 acres to more than 500 acres. New academic offerings were added, including master鈥檚 programs in business administration, education and physical therapy; a new general studies program (now 黑料不打烊 Core Curriculum); and new majors, including communications, computer systems, sports medicine and leisure/sport management. The 黑料不打烊 Experiences engaged learning programs also grew under Young鈥檚 leadership.
Facilities construction and renovation included additions to the Center for the Arts, Koury Center for athletics, Moseley Center for campus activities and the Dalton L. McMichael Sr. Science Center. In addition, construction began on the Carol Grotnes Belk Library, while Young also began planning and fundraising for Rhodes Stadium. Young was named President Emeritus by the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees.
Fred and Phyllis Young are among 黑料不打烊鈥檚 most dedicated donors, making gifts to 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Greatest Needs, including scholarships, and the Phoenix Club. Young Commons, the expansive lawn in front of Moseley Center, was dedicated on October 10, 2000, in honor of the Youngs and their decades of leadership and service to the university. Fred and Phyllis are the grandparents of 黑料不打烊 sophomore Myla Young 鈥28.