SUNY Potsdam Dedicates Washburn Rehearsal Room at The Crane School of Music

The space, which was finalized as part of a $21.5 million renovation and expansion of The Crane School of Music, will now forever be known as the Robert and Beverly Washburn Rehearsal Room, in recognition of the Washburn family’s long and proud history at the institution. 

“This space, the Washburn Rehearsal Room, is Crane’s premier rehearsal environment. It’s designed from the ground up to allow our large ensembles to safely and effectively prepare for the kinds of transformative, iconic performances we offer every year on this campus, in our community and around the world,” said Crane School of Music Dean Dr. William Gibbons. “But fancy bells and whistles aside, what makes the Crane experience truly special is people… today we celebrate two of those figures.” 

Dr. Robert B. Washburn '49 and Beverly Darnell Washburn '63 were beloved members of the SUNY Potsdam family for more than five decades, dedicating their lives to educating and nurturing generations of students on campus and in the community. Dr. Washburn was greatly admired and respected by hundreds of students and colleagues who studied and worked with him during his tenure as a faculty member and dean at The Crane School of Music. As an educator, musician and composer, Dr. Washburn had his works performed at Crane, in the White House, at Carnegie Hall, and at the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.  

The Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet performed one of those works, “Five Miniatures for Five Brasses,” as a highlight of the ceremony, showcasing the room’s acoustics for all to hear.

For her part, Mrs. Washburn was a founding member and assistant director of the Women’s Air Force Band, before teaching at Potsdam Central School for two decades. She was an active supporter of arts in the community, including service to the Orchestra of Northern New York, the Potsdam Public Museum Board and the American Association of University Women.  

In a loving speech recounting his parents’ lives, Brooks Washburn said: “I have to, for the record, say that they were definitely a team. If they had not met each other, neither of them would have gotten anywhere. We’ve got a couple of grandkids here, shaking their heads ‘yes.’” 

The couple thoughtfully gave back to their alma mater throughout their lives, establishing a scholarship fund to support experiential travel for students, and donating an extensive collection of eclectic global musical instruments collected from their world travels. In honor of their family's long and proud history, the Washburn children, Brooks Washburn and Roberta Washburn Scarf, made gifts in excess of $250,000 to name the rehearsal room in their parents’ memory. 

“Today, we celebrate a long tradition of giving from the Washburn family. For the Washburns, Potsdam wasn’t just where they lived or worked, it was home—for them and their children. Beginning with Bob and Beverly, the Washburn family has given selflessly of their time and resources, having supported scholarships, student travel and performances, the Community Performance Series, alumni activities, and even facilities at Crane. Today, we acknowledge the philanthropy of their children who chose to perpetuate their parents’ memory and tradition of giving with a contribution to Crane and the naming of this space,” said Amy Kellogg ’99, president of the Potsdam College Foundation Board of Trustees. 

To learn more about giving to SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/giving. 

About The Crane School of Music: 

Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York’s only All-Steinway institution and was one of the first Yamaha Institutions of Excellence. For more information, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.