For monthly donor, Dave Milcoff, music has always been an important part of his life. The small public schools he attended as a child had music and art programs for students, and his father was an enthusiastic piano player. Dave is a drummer, and over the years has been a member of several bands. He began performing with his high school band in Pennsylvania, and subsequently joined rock and pop music bands in Chicago and Northern California.

With such a wide variety of musical interests, the Green Music Center is a natural fit for his philanthropy. Dave recalls, “Attending performances in Weill and Schroeder Halls is incredible, because they are so intimate and the acoustics are ideal for music. You fall in love with a place based on your experience. I think your philanthropy defines who you are as a person, and you feel called to support a specific cause. That’s why I decided to donate to the Green Music Center.”

Dave also feels called to support the Green Music Center’s educational outreach. His four children attend Summerfield Waldorf school in Santa Rosa, and have participated in the Waldorf at Weill performance program at the Green Music Center. He feels strongly that music and arts education helps to enrich students’ lives. “I love the educational outreach that the Green Music Center does, and I love how Sonoma State and the Music Department tie in. It’s an incredible partnership and opportunity for the students to be able to attend concerts and perform on the stage.”

Being part of a community of music lovers is also important to Dave. “When I read the program books before a performance, I always look at the list of Green Music Center supporters. I like the idea of being affiliated with like-minded people with a similar value system. I want to be a part of that community, and in the future I hope to attend more donor events and be a more visible part of the network of supporters.”

Dave looks forward to attending performances in person when the doors reopen. He know that donations are now more important than ever, and plans to continue making monthly gifts. He adds, “The Green Music Center adds so much to my life. It’s a tremendous resource and does so much for our communities, for Sonoma County, for local education. This is a place that is accessible. This is a place that supports music in our communities. It has something for everyone. I feel a sense of pride that this is in our community.”

For more information about joining our community of donors, please contact Gail Chadwin at (707) 664-3661 or chadwin@sonoma.edu.