$1 MILLION GIFT FROM LUDWIG DIEHN FUND PAVES WAY FOR ENDOWED CHAIR IN MUSIC

Old Dominion University's Capital Campaign recently received a $1million gift from the F. Ludwig Diehn Fund and a $1 million matching grant from an anonymous donor that will be combined to establish an endowed chair in music.

Previous gifts from the Diehn Fund have made possible the building of the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts Center and later the Diehn Composers Room, which houses manuscripts, scores and special collections of 20th-century musical composers. Old Dominion's Diehn Concert Series is also supported by an endowment from the Diehn Fund.

A German businessman and composer, Diehn left Germany in 1937 and worked in the United States for three years before turning to composing full time. A former Norfolk resident, he died in 1995.

This latest gift from the Diehn Fund will enable the music department to bring the university increased visibility.

"The College of Arts and Letters is especially grateful to the Diehn family for the wonderful support it has provided the music department and the university over the years," said Karen Gould, dean of the College of Arts and Letters.

She added that gifts from the Diehn family "have had a tremendous impact on performing arts instruction and programming at Old Dominion University."

The Capital Campaign has raised more than $50 million for university scholarships, programs, chairs and capital needs since May 1996.