Thursday, April 20, 2023
Join us for the 32nd Annual Legacy Award Gala, sponsored by the William Paterson University Foundation, at The Grove in Cedar Grove, NJ Support the Gala Legacy Award Gala Photos Here

Photo of Michael Brecker's saxophone, courtesy of the Michael Brecker Archive/Living Jazz Archives at William Paterson University


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Funds raised through the gala directly affect the lives of our students, most of whom rely on scholarships to complete their studies.

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Legacy Award Honorees

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Distinguished Faculty/Staff


RUFUS REID

RUFUS REID

Renowned Bassist, Composer, Educator & Grammy Nominated Artist
Director of William Paterson Jazz Program 1979-1999
Jazz Faculty, William Paterson University


Click to View Legacy Speech

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS


James Terrile

James Terrile '87

Partner
Capital Group, Capital Research Global Investors


Click to View Legacy Speech

Distinguished Service


DR MARTIN

DR MARTIN "MARTY" KRIVIN‡

Founder, William Paterson University's Acclaimed Jazz Program
Jazz Studies Coordinator, 1973-1992
Professor of Music, William Paterson University


Click to View Legacy Speech

Distinguished Organization


WBGO

WBGO

WBGO 88.3 FM / Newark Public Radio


Click to View Legacy Speech

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The William Paterson University of New Jersey Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity, Tax ID# 22-3160107. For income tax purposes, the gift is deductible only to the extent by that it exceeds the value of the goods and services provided.

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The Grove, Cedar Grove, NJ

  • Date:Thursday, April 20, 2023
  • Time: 7:00pm - 11:30 p.m.
  • Attire: Cocktail Attire
  • Location: The Grove, 691 Pompton Ave, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009

Support the Gala Legacy Award Gala Photos Here Save to Calendar WP Jazz History

Legacy Scholars

Each year, hundreds of William Paterson students receive support from generous alumni and friends in the form of scholarships. The following Legacy Scholars embody what can be achieved with the help of scholarships provided by alumni and friends like you.

WP Jazz Orchestra

William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra and 2023 Legacy Scholars
Saxophones and Woodwinds:

Ben Lindenburg | alto | Seattle, WA

Dan Leschinsky


Class Standing:   Sophomore
Major(s):   Music
Concentration(s):   Jazz Studies and Performance
Instrument(s):   Alto Saxophone
Scholarship(s):   Martin and Joann Krivin Endowed Scholarship

Receiving a donor scholarship has helped me financially and allowed me to spend my time working on my craft and focusing on my musical studies and practicing. This will end up boosting my career, where I plan to perform and also take on teaching jobs.

Dan Leschinsky
| alto | Wayne, NJ
Michael Howe | tenor | Miami, FL

Joseph Foglia


Class Standing:   Sophomore
Major(s):   Music
Concentration(s):   Jazz Studies and Performance
Instrument(s):   Tenor Saxophone
Scholarship(s):   Music Department Annual Scholarship; Thad Jones Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Receiving the donor scholarship has allowed me to not take out any loans for school and given me the freedom to focus on my degree. My time at William Paterson University has brought me closer to the passion that music brings. With the donor scholarship, I have had the opportunity to create in this environment, and for that I am truly grateful. My hope is that through my career in music, I can pour that passion back out into the world.

Joe Foglia
| tenor | Raleigh, NC
Chelsea McBride | baritone | Toronto, ON
Trombones:

Richard LaRouech


Class Standing:   Junior
Major(s):   Music
Minor(s):   Performing and Literary Arts Honors Program
Concentration(s):   Jazz, Secondary Education
Instrument(s):   Trombone
Scholarship(s):   Collage Concert Music Endowed Scholarship; Marlene and J. Billy VerPlanck Endowed Scholarship

Receiving a donor scholarship has helped me focus on working on my passion, which is to make music and educate future generations about what the power of music can do. What has surprised me about being a music major is not only what I have learned from other performers, but also what others have told me they have learned from me. It seems that my course of study is not just about me improving as a player; it is about learning from others and teaching what information I have learned along the way. Receiving a donor scholarship has helped me prepare for my experiences both inside and outside of the classroom, and I hope to continue to learn more as my everlasting passion for music continues to grow and I get closer to earning my degree in jazz performance and music education.

Richard LaRouech
| E. Aurora, NY
Isla Brownlow | Blue Hill, ME
Matt Mousseau | Brewer, ME
Dave Montgomerie | bass trombone | Freehold, NJ

Trumpets:

Sean Hack | Maplewood, NJ
Dakarai Barclay | Chicago, IL

Ian Livingston


Major(s):   Music
Class Standing:   Graduate Student
Concentration(s):   Jazz Studies and Performance
Instrument(s):   Trumpet
Scholarship(s):   Wayne and Barbara Thoen Jazz Studies Annual Scholarship

I am so incredibly grateful to be receiving this scholarship. This scholarship has meant that I am able to attend school and study with incredible faculty and students. It also allows me to focus on my craft without worrying about extra debt or having to get a job while in school.

Ian Livingston
| Shepherdsville, WV

Ernest Royeppen


Class Standing:   Senior
Major(s):   Music
Concentration(s):   Jazz Studies and Performance
Instrument(s):   Trumpet
Scholarship(s):   Art Farmer Jazz Master Endowed Scholarship

Receiving a donor scholarship has allowed me to be a part of the amazing jazz studies program at Wililam Paterson University. I am absolutely blessed, appreciative, as well as humbled, to be the recipient of this donor scholarship.

Ernest Royeppen
| Capetown, S. Africa
Rhythm:

James Wallace Bally


Class Standing:   Junior
Major(s):   Music
Minor(s):   Performing and Literary Arts Honors Program
Concentration(s):   Jazz Studies and Performance
Instrument(s):   Piano
Scholarship(s):   Rufus Reid Endowed Scholarship

Receiving a donor scholarship has been a true honor and enabled me to continue my studies at William Paterson University. Being a musician, income is not always guaranteed, and my donor scholarship ensured that I will be student loan debt free when graduating. I have been able to take courses in many disciplines in music and other studies. The donor scholarship has allowed me the freedom to study anything I wish with peace of mind.

James Bally
| piano | Elizabeth, NJ

Eoin O'Mara


Class Standing:   Junior
Major(s):   Music
Minor(s):   Performing and Literary Arts Honors Program
Concentration(s):   Jazz Studies and Performance
Instrument(s):   Guitar
Scholarship(s):   Edward A. Thompson Endowed Scholarship; Gene J. Bertoncini Music Annual Scholarship; Music Department Annual Scholarship

Receiving a donor scholarship has allowed me to focus entirely on pursuing my goal of having a career in music. It has allowed me to focus on my composition and has meant that I have the freedom to work with my peers on our own original projects. This has enabled me to explore avenues in my career path I never would have thought possible, and the environment that William Paterson fosters and the generosity of its donors have given me this opportunity.

Eoin O'Mara
| guitar | New York, NY

Hoyeon Choi


Class Standing:   Graduate Student
Major(s):   Music
Concentration(s):   Jazz Studies and Performance
Instrument(s):   Guitar
Scholarship(s):   Wayne and Barbara Thoen Jazz Studies Annual Scholarship

Thanks to my donor scholarship, I am able to complete my master’s degree at William Paterson University. If I had not received the donor scholarship, I would not have been here. After I received the scholarship, I finally became able to focus on my studies. I really want to say thank you so much to the donors for helping me.

Hoyeon Choi
| guitar | Seoul, S. Korea

Ben Petkaitis


Class Standing:   Sophomore
Major(s):   Music
Concentration(s):   Music and Entertainment Industries - Jazz
Instrument(s):   Bass
Scholarship(s):   Amos Kaune Jazz Annual Scholarship

I am immensely grateful for the donor scholarship I have received. It allows me to pursue my dreams through making professional contacts and being educated on my instrument at a very high level. The donor scholarship has lifted much of the financial burden off of my shoulders and lets my mind focus on other important tasks within my education.

Ben Petkaitis
| bass | W. Hartford, CT

Elias Strombom


Class Standing:   Senior
Major(s):   Music
Minor(s):   Music Honors Program
Concentration(s):   Jazz Studies and Performance
Instrument(s):   Drums
Scholarship(s):   Gerard W. Vosshall Endowed Scholarship

Receiving a donor scholarship has allowed me to afford going to college. Without the scholarship, I would be tied down to student loan debt, and as a musician, this would limit me in what I am able to do with my career once I graduate. I came from California to get involved in the music in New Jersey and New York area. It has been a wonderful experience so far and the reason I have been able to afford it is through the generosity of the donor scholarship.
Eli Strombom
| drums | Folsom, CA
Follow links for more information from this year's Legacy Scholars

Committee Members

Davonna Approvato '13, MBA '17

Assistant Director, Alumni Fund, Yale University

Bill Charlap

Grammy Award-Winning Pianist
Director of Jazz Studies, William Paterson University

Dr. David Demsey

Jazz Studies Coordinator, William Paterson University
Curator of WP Living Jazz Archives

Pam Ferguson

President, William Paterson University Foundation
Vice President of Institutional Advancement, William Paterson University

Safiya Lochan, MBA '23

Development and Donor Events Coordinator, William Paterson University

Payton MacDonald

Chair, Music Department and Director of Percussion, William Paterson University

Meredith McCarthy Makkai

Director of Special Events, William Paterson University

Lynne Mueller

Jazz Event Planner and Enthusiast
Friend of WP Living Jazz Archives

Raymond "Ray" Pinglora III '02

Principal, Van Duyne, Bruno & Co., P.A.

Joseph "Joe" Riccitelli '85

Owner, Gold'n Retriever Entertainment

Allison Rumley '15

Vocalist and Bandleader, Big Beat Big Band

Caleb Rumley '14, MM '16

Trombonist and Bandleader, Big Beat Big Band
IT User Support Specialist, William Paterson University

Sheri McNally-Scribner '93

Operations Manager, Grand Pro-Mo, LLC

Mary Kay Scucci '86, PhD, CPA

Founder, Y&M Ventures

Aaron Van Duyne III '75, MM '08

Senior Principal, Van Duyne, Bruno & Co., P.A.
Chair, William Paterson University Foundation

Brian Wood '87

Founder, Mars Coaching


Our Mission

This year is the 32nd year of the Legacy Award Gala, sponsored by the William Paterson University Foundation. The Legacy Award honors those who exemplify the leadership of our namesake, William Paterson, by demonstrating a strong support for public higher education in the state of New Jersey, and generosity to others through philanthropic leadership. Funds raised through the gala directly affect the lives of our students, most of whom rely on scholarships to complete their studies. With your generous support of the Gala, you can truly make a difference in the lives of our students through scholarships and programming as we strive to achieve the University's mission of academic excellence and student success. The William Paterson University of New Jersey Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity, Tax ID# 22-3160107.

William Paterson Fundation
PresHelldobler

Richard HelldoblerPresident

William Paterson University

Pamela Ferguson

Pamela L. FergusonFoundation President

Vice President for Institutional Advancement,
William Paterson University

Aaron Van Duyne

Aaron Van Duyne III '75, M.A. '08Foundation Chairperson

Senior Principal, Van Duyne CPAs & Advisors

Get in touch with Us

Still have questions? Contact us using the form below.

Send us an email

Or Call Us: 973.720.2478

Venue location:

The Grove
691 Pompton Ave, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
·973.239.0270