The Music Academy of the West announced two major donations this week. Shirley and Seymour Lehrer of Santa Barbara gave $3 million to support programming and facility upgrades, which includes a $1 million challenge grant for the renovation of the academy’s recital hall. The second gift announced was that of Music Academy alumnus Irene Cummings, who bequeathed her 16-acre avocado ranch in Santa Paula to the academy specifically to endow future opera productions. (/musicacademy814)
