The Mary Evelyn L'Engle Orchestra Fund was established in 1950. It was made possible by a bequest in the will of Miss L'Engle who died in 1948. Mary L'Engle had a vision of providing a means to help educate students to play instruments for orchestral performances. She discussed her ideas with a prominent music teacher at the time Jessie J. Devore, to set up a non-profit organization to make this possible. Ms. Devore was the ideal person to do this. Although diminuitive in stature, she was a "no-nonsense" professional. It took two years to organize the orchestra fund and obtain its 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service.
This website is provided courtesy of the Paul and Linda Kahn Foundation, a private operating foundation classified as a 501(c )(3) nonprofit organization, whose mission includes projects advancing the arts. Recognizing the importance of music in our lives, the Paul and Linda Kahn Foundation has undertaken several projects in Florida in the music arena.
Initially, the Paul and Linda Kahn Foundation, continued to fund an annual award for an outstanding music student as chosen by the Music School Faculty at Florida State University. It subsequently facilitated a repeat performance at the Friday Musicale by Vytautus Smetona, an internationally acclaimed pianist, as well as a preview performance of his scheduled recital at the Friday Musicale. This preview was open to the public at Riverside Park United Methodist Church. Currently, the Paul and Linda Kahn Foundation is sponsoring the annual competitive Virginia Louise McClure Music Award in cooperation with Jacksonville University's Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts. The winner receives a cash award and presents a winner's recital at JU's Terry Concert Hall.
Members of the Board of the Paul and Linda Kahn Foundation are happy to support the L'Engle Orchestra Fund in its mission to provide stringed instruments to school children with a goal of orchestral performance.