President's Message
C. Tayloe Harding

From its initial conception in 1998 through the recent successful completion of The College Music Society's 50th anniversary year during 2007-2008, The CMS Fund has been serving music in higher education by promoting music teaching and learning, musical creativity and expression, research, diversity of perspective, and interdisciplinary cooperation. As an extension of the Society, The CMS Fund enhances American life through support of exemplary and innovative projects of the Society's members that bring to the wider public the accomplishments of the music profession in higher education. This relationship has been manifested most significantly by The CMS Fund's sponsoring of CMS Beyond Fifty, the Society's first fund-raising campaign. The purpose of this important campaign, launched during the anniversary year, is to provide the resources necessary to support innovative approaches to engagement and outreach (1) on campus and off campus and (2) within undergraduate and graduate curricula. CMS Beyond Fifty will enable the Society to continue to foster effective and original approaches to curricula, pedagogy, and audience development to strengthen the place of music in our culture.

During the campaign, The CMS Fund will also continue to raise funds in keeping with its mission of assisting the programs and initiatives of The College Music Society. By so doing the Fund will help address the challenges facing the profession by bringing the accomplishments of its members and their institutions to a wider public. In today's society musicians, whether they are composers, performers, educators, or scholars, must possess the skills necessary to interact and communicate with the general public in order to influence more effectively musical life in contemporary society.

While CMS Beyond Fifty will be the primary focus of The CMS Fund through 2011, the Fund continues its support of ADAMS (Academic Digital Audio Music Service) and a three-year program for the activities of CMS's Committee on Community Engagement.

The Board of Directors of The CMS Fund wishes to thank the many members who have already contributed. We encourage all members of the Society to make contributions, of any size, which will help make possible these programs that benefit the entire profession.

Contributions – Contributions to the Anniversary Campaign may be made through this secure web site by clicking here.

Printable Brochure - Click here for The CMS Fund's brochure in portable document format (pdf).