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Sustaining the Symphony: Supporting Future Virtuosos at the Shepherd School of Music

Growing up, George John '76 was surrounded by music and was heavily influenced by his father's passion for the opera and his mother's prowess on the piano. He began playing the cello in third grade, and his devotion to classical music continued to grow as a student at Rice.

When George arrived on Rice's campus in the fall of 1971, the Shepherd School of Music was in its infancy. Studying behavioral science and then economics, George fulfilled his love for music by joining the Rice Chamber Orchestra and immersing himself in all Rice had to offer.

"I like to say that my unofficial major was musicology, music history and music appreciation," George chuckled. "Rice had an incredible music library, and I spent a lot of time listening to the collection - maybe too much."

"There was a quartet I loved that came to Hamman Hall one year while they were touring. I met them after the concert and asked them to sign my favorite LP of theirs, which went on to receive a Grammy nomination," George recalled. "As it turns out, the cellist, Norman Fischer, is now the chair of the Shepherd School's chamber music program."

After graduation, George pursued a career in software development. "In 1976, you could basically go down to any major bookstore, buy books on software development and teach yourself, so I got in from the ground floor," he explained. "My biggest takeaway from Rice is that it taught me to be a highly motivated and lifelong learner."

Throughout his life, George has nurtured his love for music, playing in amateur orchestral groups and attending performances at the Shepherd School and the Houston Symphony with his wife Teresa. When she suddenly passed away in 2022, George found solace in the classical music community he had built.

"That season, I attended 143 concerts at the Shepherd School. The Rice faculty and students were so supportive, and it was just a gift to be able to enjoy such phenomenal performances here."

After the Secure Act 2.0 was announced in 2022, George decided to take advantage of a tax-wise giving option, establishing a charitable gift annuity through his IRA rollover that provides him with fixed payments for life, while providing unrestricted funds for the Shepherd School in the future.

"If you have a required minimum distribution, you get to knock that out without any tax consequences, and you get to do a great thing. Rice isn't free like it used to be, but it is wonderful how much they help out their students," he said. "My hope is that this will help some very deserving musicians and will support the Shepherd School as they continue to attract top talent."

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Shepherd School of Music. Contact the Office of Gift planning to learn more about giving options that benefit you and sustain the future of excellence at the Shepherd School.