Saulsbury Fund Supports Rising Musicians

Robert Saulsbury transferred his father's private foundation to The Community Foundation in 2001. The reason? To ensure the continued growth of the scholarship bearing his father's name. Today, the Curtis M. Saulsbury Scholarship Fund provides young people the opportunity to obtain an education in music.

Robert Saulsbury, son of Curtis M. Saulsbury Photo credit: Judy Sirota Rosenthal
Though he passed away decades ago, today Curtis Saulsbury continues to make a difference in music and with New Haven youth.

With urging from his wife Ilene, Robert Saulsbury transferred his father's private foundation to The Community Foundation in 2001. The reason? To ensure the continued growth of the scholarship bearing his father's name.

Curtis Saulsbury
Curtis Saulsbury featured on cover of a New Haven Info booklet in 1959.

Today, the Curtis M. Saulsbury Scholarship Fund provides young people the opportunity to obtain an education in music. It also pays tribute to a New Haven native and musician who devoted his life to singing and teaching religious, popular and classical music.

During Curtis' lifetime, he contributed proceeds and donations from his scholarship benefit concerts to his private foundation. Decades after his death in 1965, donations from family and friends continue Curtis' legacy of giving to make the future brighter for talented young people including Christian Sands.

Sands attended the Manhattan School of Music with help from the Saulsbury scholarship. Sands was named as one of Jazz future rising stars in "Jet Magazine" by Wynton Marsalis and has played with such greats as Oscar Peterson at the GRAMMY's Salute to Jazz.

"I have been awarded many opportunities by attending college," said Sands who was nominated for a Grammy for 2010 Best Latin Jazz Pianist and who performed with some of the leading jazz musicians, including touring with Christian McBride.

Christian has participated in the music mentoring program YAI foundation in New York for youth outreach through music. He was also the Music Director for Rebecca Gruber for her New York Showcase Debut and performed at Dizzy Club Coca Cola for Jazz in Lincoln Center.

Like the Saulsburys, you or someone you know can create a lasting legacy through a permanent endowment that benefits the community for generations.

To talk to someone in person about creating your personal legacy by establishing a fund, please email Sharon Cappetta or call her 203-777-7071.

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