During the Renaissance period, the Medici family was responsible for fostering and funding art and humanities in Florence, Italy, spanning from the work of Michelangelo to Leonardo Da Vinci. The wealthy banking family offered patronage, giving creators financial backing for pursuits that otherwise likely wouldn’t have been possible.
Although the last of the direct Medici line died with Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici in 1743, the family’s mark continues to live on.
Akin to its namesake, the Medici Circle provides financial support for University of Arizona College of Fine Arts students, allowing them to pursue their own creative endeavors.
Macy Halverson, a fourth-year student studying vocal performance, was able to take part in an opera program in Vicenza, Italy, through support of Medici Circle donor Lisa Harter.
At 8 years old, Halverson began singing lessons.
“My mom wanted to do a community production as a family, so we did a musical. Then she was like, ‘Wait a second, you can actually sing! I should put you in voice lessons.’ And I never stopped,” Halverson said.
The opera program lasted three weeks, in which they prepared for their performance, a stark contrast to the multiple month-long process for the operas she had done through the UA. The short period was full of rehearsal that took up most of the day.
During the weekends, she would explore the town, getting a chance to experience the culture.
“As you can imagine, traveling to Italy for the summer is […] very, very expensive, and I definitely would not have been able to do it without the support from the Medici Circle,” Halverson said.
Through support from Medici Circle donor Wesley Green, Gwendolyn Buettner, a fourth-year student studying dance and journalism, spent two months as a resident community advisor intern at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York.
Joffrey hosts a large summer dance program that includes intensives in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap and many more. As a resident community advisor, Buettner was responsible for overseeing the students staying in her section and leading transportation for outings. Her group would usually consist of about 20 students, with an age range of 8 to 22-years-old.
“Managing 20 plus kids in the city — it’s no small feat,” Buettner said. “Definitely quick problem solving skills were something I really learned, and will take with me forever.”
During Buettner’s free time, she’d attend open classes at Joffrey as well as other dance schools and explore New York.
“I hope students keep applying for it because the donors are so generous and so kind,” Buettner said. “They come to our dance shows. I got assigned my donor, and I was like, ‘I know that guy. I talked to him so many times.’ It’s fun to be able to connect with them, too. It’s just a really special program that I haven’t really heard of at other schools.”
Donors can become annual members of the Medici Circle through a yearly $2,000 donation, which supports one Medici Scholar. Lifetime membership is available for a one-time donation of $25,000 or planned donations valued at $100,000 to the College of Fine Arts Dean’s Fund for Excellence. UA College of Fine Arts students interested in opportunities can find information about applying through the College of Fine Arts’ website.
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