DONOR SPOTLIGHT
A Shared Sense of Service
Celebrating The Richard W . Ley Trombone Chair
By Allison Burr-Livingstone
One early summer evening , members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra ’ s brass section shared a selection of sea-inspired works , with the Baltimore harbor as their backdrop , for a Chamber Music Interlude at the Baltimore Museum of Industry . The performance was far from the first for Richard Ley , a “ Meyerhoff original ” attending Symphony concerts in Baltimore since 1982 ; however , a connection he forged that evening informed an extraordinary gift that will resonate with BSO audiences for generations to follow .
“ I had heard about Jeremey ’ s arrival at the Orchestra from sitting onstage for donor rehearsals ,” Richard shared . “ The event at the BMI was the first time we met in person , and we immediately connected over our shared history of active service in the Navy .”
The son of a career Air Force officer , Richard had grown up in a military family . Then a young graduate from UC Berkeley , his August 31 birthday assigned him # 11 in the first draft lottery in 1971 . Rather than wait to be called for duty , he chose the Navy , serving in D . C . and the Far East for three years , as a drilling reservist for eight years , and as a member of the U . S . Navy Reserve well into his professional career to follow .
BSO Trombonist Jeremy Buckler , the grandson of two members of the Greatest Generation ( Airforce and Marines ), entered the Navy in 2009 . “ Its an audition like any orchestra , you need to be musically qualified , but you also have to meet all of the requirements to become a sailor , including going through boot camp ,” Jeremy recounted . He served on active duty as a concert and ceremonial trombonist in the U . S . Navy Band , Washington D . C . from 2009 to 2016 , performing over 1,000 ceremonies in Arlington National Cemetery alone . “ It was an easy leap , serving in the armed forces in the best way that I could , through music ,” he said , describing his journey from the Navy Band to the ranks of the BSO brass section .
By the fall , the two would be able to celebrate another special bond : Richard ’ s endowing of Jeremy ’ s section trombone chair .
“ I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of scholarships and fellowships over the course of my academic career and learned early on the importance of someone having enough faith and generosity to pay it forward ,” Richard shared . “ I ’ ve also worked with people who make wonderful , planned gifts but pass on before they ever see the effects of their legacy . I knew that I wanted to enjoy seeing my gift in my lifetime .”
Before meeting Jeremy , Richard — a Governing Member for many years — had decided that his desired legacy was to not only endow a chair in the Orchestra but to endow a chair in the brass section . “ I love 19th and 20th-century composers like Prokofiev , Shostakovich , and Wagner , and this music demands a great brass
section ,” he said , also remarking that it had struck him upon reading the musician roster in Overture Magazine that the brass section seemed to be “ light ” on endowed chairs . Forging a personal connection with Jeremy was the final point of inspiration Richard needed to formalize his gift to the endowment .
When Jeremy first learned of Richard ’ s gift , he was both excited and honored . “ Knowing this gift was from Richard made it even more special because we share a common sense of service . Richard is expressing it with his charitable action , making a highly visible gift to the endowment to support the Orchestra in perpetuity and inspire others . As the holder of the chair , and for all the holders to follow me , I am committed to living up to that investment and being of service to our musical community .”
And while both Richard and Jeremy look forward to another season filled with the brilliance and warmth of the brass sound so unique to the BSO , they also shared a joke inspired by their military past : “ Just 75 endowed trombone chair donors to go and then we can have our own BSO marching band !”
Richard was able to realize his vision of endowing a chair in the Orchestra by leveraging the power of a Qualified Charitable Distribution ( QCD ) through his IRA .
WHAT IS A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION ? A qualified charitable distribution ( QCD ) is a distribution from your individual retirement account ( IRA ) to a qualified charity . You must be age 70½ or older to make a QCD . A qualified charitable distribution is not taxed , nor is it included in your taxable income — but the savings on your income may still make this kind of donation tax-savvy . QCDs can also be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions ( RMDs ) for the year , as long as certain rules are met ( including having funds come out of your IRA by your RMD deadline , generally December 31 ).
Learn more at www . bsomusic . org / plannedgiving
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