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Ambassador Performing Arts Collection given to Stanford



I thought this would be of interest especially to our Archives Group.

 Warm Regards,

Ron

Worldwide Church of God Archives
Recording God's Grace in our Christian Journey

Ronald Urwiller, Archivist
300 West Green St.
Pasadena, CA 91123

Ph:   626.304.6064
Cell: 626.824.7639
Fax: 626.304.6112
Ron_Urwiller@wcg.org
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Contact:
Dr. Bernard Schnippert

300 West Green Street

Pasadena, CA 91123

(626) 304-4011

April 23, 2001


For Immediate Release




Ambassador Foundation Donates Historic Materials to Prominent California
Archive


Pasadena, California ? Ambassador Foundation, sponsor for twenty years of
the world renowned Ambassador Performing Arts series at its main venue,
Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, California, announced today the donation
of its performing arts archives to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound.

Commenting on the donation, Stanford University Librarian Michael A. Keller
remarked, "Most musicians of any stature who appeared on the West Coast in
the last twenty-five years appeared at one or more Ambassador Foundation
events in the spectacular Auditorium on its Ambassador College campus in
Pasadena. No history of performing arts in California would be complete
without a consideration of this series. The Stanford University Libraries
are proud to be entrusted with the documentation of these concerts for use
by students, scholars, and researchers for years to come."


Although the Foundation carefully stored the materials in its own archives
since the end of the performing arts series in May 1995, it really had few
resources to make the archives available for public inspection and
research. "That is why," according to Foundation spokesperson, Dr. Bernard
Schnippert, the Church?s Director of Finance, "we were thrilled to find
such an outstanding facility as the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound to
which we could donate the materials for monitored public inspection and
scholarly research."


Ambassador Auditorium was, between 1975 and 1995, the site of an
outstanding concert series hosted by Ambassador Foundation, a public
service affiliate of its founder, the Worldwide Church of God,
headquartered in Pasadena since 1947. The Foundation inaugurated Ambassador
Auditorium April 7, 1974 with Maestro Carlo Maria Guilini conducting the
Vienna Symphony Orchestra. The Foundation presented famed pianist Arthur
Rubinstein in January 1975, then, with the 1975-76 concert season began in
earnest its twenty year cultural legacy with performers such as tenor
Luciano Pavarotti, pianists Vladimir Horowitz and Jakob Gimpel and
guitarist Christopher Parkening. Through the seasons, the Foundation was
credited with consistently maintaining diverse and high quality
programming. Young artists were given opportunity through the long running
Gold Medal series and the Foundation developed close associations with The
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, The Dance Theatre of Harlem and Opera a la
Carte. In 1986, the Foundation brought the Kirov Ballet of Leningrad to the
Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for its first West Coast appearance in
over 15 years.


In the late 80?s and early 90?s, the Church began to experience declining
income because of theological reforms. While the reforms were
enthusiastically welcomed as positive by the mainstream Christian
community, some Church members removed their fellowship and financial
support from the Church, necessitating the cessation of the concert series
which, while hosted by Ambassador Foundation, had been heavily subsidized
by the Church.


"Even after the concert series ended, the Foundation continued in its
desire to share its legacy with the community," Dr. Schnippert added. "What
better way to do so than by preserving the Foundation?s considerable
historical materials and making them available to the public for research?"


The 50-acre Ambassador Campus is in escrow with Irvine developer, Legacy
Partners. The Church will relocate its administrative headquarters from the
campus to an undetermined Southern California location. "Even though the
Ambassador campus is being sold, the Church and Foundation hope that
Ambassador Auditorium?s contribution to the community is far from over,"
said Dr. Schnippert. "Part of the buyer?s plan for the site is to donate
the Auditorium to the City of Pasadena and set up a foundation to provide
for the costs of operating as a performing arts venue once again." Dr.
Schnippert continued, "We certainly hope that Legacy?s plan will come to
fruition and that the Auditorium will once again provide a gracious,
quality venue for the type of acclaimed performances it has been known for
in the past. If so, the sale of our headquarters facility will be a win not
just for the Church and our buyers, but for the City and the surrounding
community as well. Certainly nothing would make us happier."


"Ambassador College presented more than 2,000 events to over two million
people," added Mr. Keller. "Given the staggering amount of material and
documentation ? over 500 packing boxes! ? we will try to make at least
parts of the collection available for research as soon as it is inventoried
and checked for condition."


After being inventoried and assessed for preservation needs, the materials
donated by Ambassador Foundation and Worldwide Church of God to Stanford
University will be available for study in Stanford's Archive of Recorded
Sound. Questions concerning the collection may be sent to the Archivist at
Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, 541 Lasuen Mall - Braun Music Center,
Stanford, CA 94305-3076 or by calling (650) 723-9312.

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