Eastman Gets Multi-million-dollar Gift from 2 Alumni

Joan and Jeff Beal, two very accomplished alumni of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, have given their alma mater the largest individual gift made to the school since George Eastman established it in 1921. Joan Beal (’84) is a vocalist, music and education champion, and university trustee; her husband Jeff (’85) is a multiple Emmy-winning composer.

Their multi-million-dollar contribution is part of “For Ever Better: The Campaign for the University of Rochester,” which aims to support the intersection of music, technology, and education. Joan Beals is a co-chair of the campaign.

The couple’s transformative new gift, which builds on their previous one of $2 million, will underwrite a major expansion of Eastman’s Beal Institute for Film Composition and Contemporary Media, established during the university’s last comprehensive campaign and currently under the direction of Emmy Award–winning composer and conductor Mark Watters. Funds will be available immediately for:

• The Beal Innovation Hub, a 6,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art collaborative center created by repurposing existing space to house labs, creative spaces, workstations, recording booths, and teaching studios.
• New scholarships
• Initial funding to support new undergraduate and graduate programs that will launch in fall 2027 and be led by the Beal Institute’s associate professor of music and technology, Dennis DeSantis. Additional faculty will be hired, and state-of-the-art technology will be purchased for use by students.

“Jeff and I are who we are today largely because of the education, mentorship, and opportunities we received at Eastman,” says Joan Beal. Her husband adds, “This gift is really about giving back—making sure the next generation of musicians, innovators, and creators have the support and opportunities they need to grow and succeed in the ever-evolving technological and cultural landscape of music.”

The Beals’ successes offer a model of how to move ahead in today’s professional music industry. Joan Beal is an accomplished vocalist whose range embraces classical, film, and contemporary music. She is also a widely respected mentor and advocate for young artists.

Jeff Beal is a five-time Emmy-winning composer whose works are performed by major ensembles. He is also a talented pianist whose solo piano recording of New York Études has been featured on NPR and BBC3 radio.