Performances + Events
The Marvin & Lorna Gilmore Student Legacy Fund
Established by Marvin Gilmore ’51 DP, ’24 hon. DM, NEC alumnus and beloved member of the Boston and NEC Community, with his family, friends, and loved ones, The Marvin & Lorna Gilmore Student Legacy Fund will provide need-based financial support to New England Conservatory students facing unexpected financial expenses not otherwise covered by financial aid.
The fund aims to provide financial relief to eligible students, assisting them to overcome financial obstacles and continue to pursue their lives in music, ranging from education (non-tuition) and performance-related costs, to bills and other living expenses that would otherwise be prohibitive to their academic and musical pursuits.
Give to the The Marvin & Lorna Gilmore Student Legacy Fund
About Marvin E. Gilmore Jr. ’51 DP, ’24 hon. DM
Marvin Gilmore is a distinguished WWII Veteran, civil rights activist and business entrepreneur, recently named a Boston “Hero” on the 1965 Freedom Plaza that surrounds the Embrace sculpture in Boston Common. A U.S. Army D-Day Veteran, his illustrious career and cultural legacy include establishing Unity Bank—the first Black-owned bank in Massachusetts, opening a Cambridge Jazz and Reggae club called The Western Front in 1968, and serving as President and CEO for the Community Development Corporation of Boston for 43 years, just to name a few.
In a special ceremony on October 4, Gilmore was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from NEC, celebrating his legacy as an artist and civil rights leader. This ceremony coincided with Marvin’s 100th birthday in an extraordinary celebration on September 21st in NEC’s Jordan Hall that was covered by the Boston Globe and led to the creation of this Gilmore Legacy Fund, furthering his impact on the NEC community and beyond.
Marvin E. Gilmore, Jr. has always understood that music is not merely an art form—it is a vehicle for social progress and unity. His passion for jazz, his collaborations with world-renowned artists, and his enduring support for young musicians have enriched the cultural fabric of the nation.
About Lorna June Gilmore Vassar; PhD-Biochemistry, Harvard; VNA
In addition to raising her three children and assisting, organising and supporting many of Marvin’s business affairs, Lorna Gilmore was a tireless contributor to the community. She received her undergraduate degree from Vassar College and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University. She served as secretary of the Cambridge Visiting Nurses Association for 20 years along with being a longtime Member of the Board of the Cambridge YWCA and volunteering her time and knowledge to numerous charities and causes.
Lorna married Marvin on March 7, 1959 and throughout her life as a wife, mother, business woman and scientist, she was an avid reader, an animal lover, an expert gardener and her gourmet cooking was legendary. Lorna passed peacefully on February 17, 2007. Her quiet and loving spirit made everyone in her presence feel welcomed, supported and loved.
After NEC
