Surprise gift a high note

by Mike Peluso

From M, winter 2003

The University of Minnesota's School of Music received an extraordinary birthday present in its 100th year. Harvey Berneking of San Francisco, who died last May at 82, has left a bequest to the school that's expected to total several million dollars.

Berneking was a 1948 graduate of the School of Music with a master's degree in piano. He credited the financial support he received and his time at the University as life-changing opportunities. He wanted to give back in a way that could help other students have the same experiences. Berneking lived most of his adult life in California, where he invested in real estate and was a strong supporter of music and the arts in San Francisco.

His gift is the largest in the school's history and may amount to the second largest single gift to any school of music at a U.S. public university. At Berneking's request, it will be used principally for scholarships.

"It's the best anniversary present we could ever hope for," said Jeffery Kimpton, director of the School of Music.

The bequest is expected to bring the school's endowment to more than $13 million, providing a substantial boost to its effort to increase its endowment to at least $20 million, a level that would place the school on a par with other top-ranked music schools at public universities.