a renaissance man of giving Albert Folop ’69 plays music and instruments from the 1600s, but his support for budding young musicians at Maryland makes clear that he is focused on the future. Folop, who for more than 30 years has made an annual gift to benefit Maryland students, is a charter member of the university’s Colonnade Society, now celebrating its 20th anniversary. “This kind of consistent giving has enabled Maryland to now compete for the best students and faculty and is essential if the university’s ambitions goals for the future are to be realized,” says Colonnade Society Council Chair John H. Axley III. Folop, who retired from a 27-year career in the Navy and 15 years as a computer programmer, says when he started giving, he kept it up every year, giving at the Colonnade level since 1982. “My education was paid for by the government and I felt I ought to give back to help other students.” Today, Folop is doing his part to preserve Renaissance and Baroque music, playing the viola da gamba, recorder, krummhorn, rauschpfeife, cometto, lute and baroque flute and creating an online archive of some 3,000 viol music scores available for free download. A member of the School of Music Board of Visitors, Folop frequently attends student performances. He even sits with nervous families to cheer students during the early stages of the annual concerto competition. “College is there for the young people,” Folop says. “I’m supporting the School of Music in developing high-caliber students who are destined to become the professional artists of tomorrow as well as those who will keep music alive in local communities.”—CR
YEARS
34
spring 2011
TERP
S11terp_Loop_FINAL.indd 34
Colonnade Society Marks 20 Years The Colonnade Society recognizes donors who make annual contributions of $1,000 or more. Membership reached 5,212 in 2010. For more information, visit www.colonnade.umd.edu.
photo by john T. consoli
5/6/11 8:29 AM
GR