Honoring Trustee Rhonda G. Kost and Alfred Z. Spector and Faculty Member Glen Kirchoff

On Sunday, May 5, 2024, students, faculty, staff, families, alumni and volunteers came together at our Spring Benefit to honor Trustee Rhonda G. Kost, Alfred Z. Spector and Faculty Member Glen Kirchoff for their decades of service and leadership and their innumerable contributions to the School. 

The evening’s highlights included performances by world-renowned violinist and HB parent Leila Josefowicz, sharing the stage with members of our Suzuki Violin ensemble, chamber and jazz ensembles, presentations to honorees; and a wonderfully delicious and fun dessert reception generously hosted by Seth Greenberg’s Just Desserts. 

Thanks to the incredible generosity and support of the HBMS community, we raised over $130,000! Funds raised ensure that Hoff-Barthelson can continue to provide comprehensive music education of the highest caliber, offer generous financial aid and deliver dynamic programs for our community. 

We extend our deepest gratitude to every member of the HBMS community who generously contributed to this tremendous achievement.

If you were unable to join us for the event but wish to contribute, please click here to donate.

Rhonda G. Kost and Alfred Z. Spector

Rhonda G. Kost and Alfred Z. Spector have put their passion for music into action, as individuals, as they have raised their family, and as they have given their generous support to Hoff-Barthelson Music School. Today we honor their decades of commitment to the School community as students, parents, philanthropists, and fierce advocates for the power of music to educate and enrich lives and to provide a foundation for academic and emotional success.

Rhonda and Alfred both grew up in environments where music was appreciated and each had a smattering of music education as children, but neither had in-depth study or a background in theory or structured performance. While both dabbled in music on their own during their young adult and early career years, their attentions were in other areas. Alfred earned a BA in Applied Mathematics from Harvard and a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford, leading to a career in technology research as a professor, entrepreneur, manager, and senior executive.   Rhonda earned a BS in Biology from Yale and went on to receive an MD from Harvard Medical School, and pursue a career in clinical and translational biomedical research.  Read more here.

Glen Kirchoff

There is no person with a longer commitment to and deeper relationship with Hoff-Barthelson than Glen Kirchoff.

During his five decades at Hoff-Barthelson he has served as a piano faculty member, piano technician, building manager, and unofficial keeper of institutional memory, in roughly equal measure. He has provided expert music education to legions of students while simultaneously providing physical care for the school’s nearly four dozen pianos and serving as the superintendent of HB’s two buildings. Indeed, his knowledge of and investment in the school is both expansive and profoundly intimate. We are humbled to be honoring him today.

Glen grew up in southernmost New Jersey, about five miles from Philadelphia. Neither his parents nor sister had any experience in the world of music; his affection for music was organic and self-directed. Glen’s first instrument was the trumpet, picked up as an optional part of the curriculum in elementary school. “My parents thought it was a waste of time,” Glen said. “But to me, music was a world that made sense. All the structure resonated with me as an anchor.” Read more here.

Featuring world-renowned violinist Leila Josefowicz

Leila Josefowicz, world-renowned violinist and HB parent, will be our Special Guest Artist, sharing the stage with our Suzuki Violin ensemble members. Ms. Josefowicz’s passionate advocacy of contemporary music for the violin is reflected in her diverse programs and enthusiasm for performing new works. A favorite of living composers, Josefowicz has premiered many concertos, including those by Colin Matthews, Luca Francesconi, John Adams, and Esa-Pekka Salonen, all written especially for her.

Highlights of recent seasons include appearances with Berliner Philharmoniker; Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich; Royal Concertgebouworkest; Konzerthausorchester Berlin; Dresden Philharmonie, Oslo, Helsinki, and Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestras; NDR Elbphilharmonie; the Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, The Cleveland, and The Philadelphia orchestras, where she worked with conductors at the highest level, including Matthias Pintscher, John Storgårds, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Louis Langrée, Hannu Lintu and John Adams. Read more here. 

Special thanks to

2024 Benefit Chairs

2024 Benefit Host Committee

Hoff-Barthelson Faculty

Barbara Berg, Laura Giannini, Gary Kosloski, Mark Kushnir, Ed Palermo

Volunteers

Meredith Conway, Stefanie Dwyer, Claire Feng, Marili Merino-Quispe, Marcello Merino-Quispe, Natalia Merino-Quispe, Olivia Merino Quispe, Terry Wager, Ling Wang, Suni Yoo

Special thanks to Doron Schächter for filming the event.

Dessert Reception generously sponsored by Seth Greenberg’s Just Desserts