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Liberace Foundation Awards Scholarship

Carolyn Campbell (ccampbel@arts.ucla.edu) (310) 825-6540
For Immediate Use Wednesday, March 04, 1998.

The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts has awarded $10,000 to the Department of Music at UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture to support outstanding graduate students for the 1998 academic year. The foundation, a non-profit organization created by the late Liberace in 1976, has made awards to UCLA over the past two years as part of a scholarship program known as the Liberace Scholars in Music at UCLA.

"It has made my life so much easier and enabled me to spend more time in the practice room, the place where the real work gets done," says John Klacka (Burbank) one of the 1997-98 Liberace Scholars.

Klacka will be singing the role of Pistol in the upcoming UCLA production of Verdi's "Falstaff" from May 21-23. He is currently completing the final course work toward his doctorate in musical arts. During his three years at UCLA he has performed in Stravinsky's "Rakes Progress," in Rossini's "La scala di Seta," and in Mozart's "Die Zauberloete." Last year Klacka traveled to Cairo, Egypt to sing in Verdi's "La Traviata."

During his lifetime, Liberace regarded the Foundation as one of his most worthwhile accomplishments. In his book, "The Things I Love," he stated that, "a lot of good things have happened to me in show business and I want to do what I can to give others just starting out a career boost. I hope the Foundation projects will continue into the future to offer gifted new-comers financial help, and in many cases, artistic exposure as well."

"The Foundation's financial support helps the School attract and retain our most talented young musicians and assists the Department of Music in its efforts to be one the premier music programs in the country," said Daniel Neuman, Dean. "We are especially grateful to the foundation for doubling the amount of the gift to $10,000 this year. Its increased generosity will allow the School to encourage and support graduate students of the highest caliber."

The second recipient of the scholarship is Myoung Gyu Lee (Seoul, Korea) a lyric soprano. She is in her first year of doctoral studies and will be singing the role of Nanetta in the upcoming "Falstaff" production. Her prior opera experience includes role in Puccini's "Suor Angelica," Mozart's "Grand Mass in c Minor" and "Le Nozze di Figaro," Andrew Sweeney's new setting "the Messiah," Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress," Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore," and Brahms' "Requiem."

The scholarship helped Lee tremendously with juggling her international studies, career and family. "It would be impossible for me to gain the training and exposure as well as complete my doctoral studies at UCLA without the Liberace scholarship. I am a Korean citizen on a student visa and not eligible to work in the United States. As the mother of two children, this scholarship meant I could pursue my dream to be an opera singer and still help meet my family responsibilities."


Contact: Carolyn Campbell
Phone: (310) 825-6540
Email: ccampbel@arts.ucla.edu