Farfy Foundation Gift Spurs Student-Led Music Festival

The Department of Music is no stranger to these ambitions. Thanks to the department’s concert production–nearly 200 are held each year–students are regularly exposed to the latest technologies, like a new spatial sound acoustics system in the department’s Experimental Theater. Donors Londei and Wang were inspired to make a gift after meeting students and faculty who are pushing the boundaries of musical creation and performance.

Though both have careers in the sciences—Londei a medical doctor in the biotech industry and Wang a principal scientist studying the delivery of therapeutic drugs to the brain—they believe that the arts contribute to developing well-rounded, creative individuals. “Supporting education is the central theme of our foundation,” shared Wang. “We believe the arts and music heighten a person’s sensitivity to creativity.”

Their recent $90K gift has spurred “The Arcades: An Undergraduate Music Festival.” In the first quarter of the course, students will learn directly from industry specialists in programming, logistics, publicity, marketing and budget management, with one expert visiting the class each week. In the second quarter, faculty will mentor students in planning and executing the festival.

“UC San Diego’s Department of Music has innovative and brilliant professors, such as Steven Schick, Kamau Kenyatta and Lei Liang,” said Wang. “We believe the festival project will provide undergraduates firsthand exposure to such masters. More importantly they will learn how to work collaboratively and organize complex tasks—valuable skills and experiences that will prepare them to thrive in the real world. We are proud to enable such an opportunity.”