Thanks to our generous donors and the hard work of our Claire Trevor School of the Arts staff, the Calisphere archival project is successful and firmly established: https://calisphere.org/collections/26466. Although we did not reach our stated funding goal, the amount raised was sufficient to adequately represent the musical performance history at UCI recorded on reel-to-reel tape between 1969-1991.

75% of the designated tape collection has been successfully restored and digitized (the recording sound-quality is generally excellent), and about 40% of all current selections from all media types recorded between 1969-Present have been uploaded to Calisphere. This is an ongoing process in which older recordings will continue to be processed and uploaded and new selections are to be added at the end of each performance season going forward. Titles, personal names, and keywords from the archive are found in general Internet search engine results, making the collection a truly international resource.

This will be the final  Zotfunder update -- but know that it is our determination that, one way or another, this archive's web presence shall remain as a testament to UCI's rich musical history in perpetuity.

A heartfelt thanks once again to all of our supporters!

Dear ZotFunder Supporters,

The first group of 90 reel-to-reel tapes (of approximately 300) have been digitized and edited for immediate upload to Calisphere. The upload of and metadata creation for these UCI concert recordings from between 1969-1991, along with DAT recordings from 1992-2005, which have also been transferred and edited, will occupy the majority of our archival activities until all recordings from this time period are represented and available.

This leg of the project includes getting copies of recordings and programs to alumni and their families who have gifted the AMC for the realization of this endeavor.

We anticipate this first group will be accessible on Calisphere by mid-March. Feel free to visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/uci.recordings/ for more archival updates. 

With kind regards,

UCI Recordings Team 

Dear Donors, Alumni, Choral Community, and Friends,

We are so grateful for your generous monetary support and words of encouragement. Though we didn't quite reach our end goal of $21,347, we are still thrilled to have reached a total of $11,050! As a result of your help, about 300 reel-to-reel tapes will be digitized, uploaded to Calisphere https://calisphere.org/institution/221/collections/, and catalogued for public access. The upcoming months will be busy yet exciting for our team as we continue to put together all of the recordings. Please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/uci.recordings/ for further updates as we move forward on this fabulous journey.

Many thanks!

UCI Recordings Team 

In less than a week, we've raised an aditional $1,200 from Robert and Carol Haymer, Thomas Kim, and Kelson Vibber! 

Thank you to all of our donors who have made this milestone possible. Our team is extremely grateful. With a total of $10,900, we are able to digitize 270 tapes (a few of which are pictured below). We have 17 more days to reach our goal of $21,347.

Thanks in part to the success of this fundraising effort, our online audio archive is expected to expand to over a thousand recordings of university performances over the next three years. To see what’s already there, go to: https://calisphere.org/institution/221/collections/. 

Please spread the word to propel us forward on this incredible journey! 

Alin Torosian

More supporters of UCI Recordings are coming together to make this campaign a phenomenal success!

We have extended our campaign. With 29 days left, we are now more hopeful than ever that we will achieve our goal of $21,347. We are so incredibly appreciative of recently received donations from our faculty, alumni, and supportive community members. Many thanks to Linda Schwalm, Julia Lupton, Michael Buchmeier, Charles Wright, Carol Greenwald, Margaret Murata, Lauren Valantine, Sherrylene Santos, Phyllis Gilmore, Robert Huberty, Catherine Hastings, Nicole Grimes, and Robert Heylmun. We are now able to digitize a total of 270 tapes. Among these are original works and orchestral performances conducted by beloved music faculty and composer, Dr. Bernard Gilmore, whose wife, Mrs. Phyllis Gilmore, has contributed in his memory (both pictured below). 

Dr. Gilmore taught at the University of California, Irvine from 1982-2006. Many of his works are located in the UCI Special Collections and Archives. Through https://calisphere.org/institution/221/collections/, the world will soon be able to hear his original performance recordings. 

As always, please share this link https://zotfunder.give.uci.edu/project/6397 with anyone who you think might be interested to #GiveBackToUCIRecordings. Your donation qualifies as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charitable contribution. 

Alin Torosian

Incredible progress as we have reached a total of $5,575! $2,700 was raised from additional donors, including Matthew Proudfoot, Nina Scolnik, Lorelei Tanji, Jon Obergh, Allison Zema, Johanna Wilson, and Marilyn McCoy. Thank you again for your support of our campaign. With this amount, we are able to digitize another 90 tapes for a total of 150 tapes (pictured below). We only have 8 days left to reach our goal of $21,347. Please share this link https://zotfunder.give.uci.edu/project/6397 with anyone who you think might be interested to #GiveBackToUCIRecordings. Don't forget, your donation qualifies as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charitable contribution.

For more frequent updates, visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/uci.recordings/

Zot! Zot! Zot!

Alin Torosian

We would like to thank founding faculty member and former Chair of the Department of Music, H. Colin Slim for his very generous donation of $500 to help digitize an additional 12 reels of performances. Because of such philanthropic individuals as Dr. Slim, we are able to preserve the traditions of yesterday and go forth with the vision of tomorrow.

Alin Torosian

Special thanks to our wonderful alumni James Meehan and Nancy Dean! 

James Meehan - UCI Faculty from 1976-1982 and University Choir member:

"I'm just glad that the tapes made back then have been preserved all these years. We are now in a time when information, whether it's text, photos, audio, or video, can be preserved permanently, at very little cost, and can be made available to anyone with an internet connection. Whether it's just to indulge in some nostalgia, or to see how other musicians approached various pieces, there's nothing quite like having actual recordings of the past to inform the present."

Nancy Dean - University Choir member:

"I am more than pleased to be able to help and hope that you all raise the required amount of funding for this special project. My time at UCI in the choral music program was the highlight of my collegiate experience and I owe much to Joe Huszti." 

Alin Torosian

Wow! $2,875 was raised from only 19 donors. Thank you to all who have responded to the Restoration of UCI Music Performance Recordings campaign! With $2,875, we are able to digitize 60 tapes (the first 22 of which are pictured below). We have 31 more days to raise $18,472 to reach our goal of $21,347. Your gift will ensure that important and unique UCI musical performances, captured on reel-to-reel tapes, are preserved and accessible to the world. Please share this link https://zotfunder.give.uci.edu/project/6397 with your classmates and friends who you think might be interested to #GiveBackToUCIRecordings. Your donation qualifies as a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charitable contribution!

For more frequent updates, visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/uci.recordings/

Zot! Zot! Zot! 

Alin Torosian

We have received strong support from the choral community who value the preservation for history of their recorded performances. We do not want these recordings to disappear from history. Thank you!!

Ross Whitney