As a committed volunteer, Karl Loring brought both his keen business acumen and his colorful, charming wit to the LA Phil. As a philanthropist, Mr. Loring made a significant investment that will ensure the orchestra he loved in his lifetime thrives for generations to come.

Mr. Loring passed away last year at the age of 94, but more than 20 years before that, he chose to invest in the future of the LA Phil by making the orchestra a major beneficiary of his estate. He and the LA Phil's then-leader, Ernest Fleischmann, had a close and jovial friendship: Loring wrote to Fleischmann in 1996 to confirm his bequest and reiterate that although he was 73 years old and about to leave for a month-long trip to Africa and Asia, he had "no feeling of impending disaster." Fleischmann replied that anyone willing to commit a sizable portion of their estate to the LA Phil "couldn't be all bad."

What made Mr. Loring's generosity particularly noteworthy was his commitment as a volunteer to the LA Phil's mission, his deep regard for the women and men of the orchestra, and his trust in the organization's leadership, who he believed to be careful stewards of orchestral music in Los Angeles.

For the last two decades of his life, Loring saw the LA Phil flourish with the completion of Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall, the arrival of Gustavo Dudamel, and our recognition by the Los Angeles Times as "the world's most progressive orchestra" and by the New York Times as "America's most important orchestra. Period."

These successes, however, are only the beginning. Mr. Loring stipulated that returns on his gift of endowment should support the LA Phil's most ambitious festivals, tours, educational initiatives, and in particular, "activities of a celebratory character."

One such activity is this year's celebration of Frank Gehry's 90th birthday. In honor of that milestone, the LA Phil's Board inaugurated the Frank Gehry Fund for Creativity, which will use specially designated assets in the LA Phil's endowment to underwrite projects that reflect the innovative, open spirit of Los Angeles' most iconic architect.

A music organization, at its very core, is a convener: Our mission is to foster meaningful connections between artists and audiences. Today, we connect the legacies of Mr. Gehry and Mr. Loring, two individuals who have dedicated so much of their lives to supporting and advancing the LA Phil.

Contact us at legacy@laphil.org or 213 972 3458 to find out how you, too, can make a legacy gift that will support future generations of musicians and music lovers across Southern California.