Eric Larsen's transformative legacy continues through generous estate gift

Emeritus Piano faculty member Eric Larsen dedicated his career to creating extraordinary music, and for nearly four decades, he helped piano students in the UNCSA School of Music learn to perform at the very highest levels.

Serving on the faculty since 1979, he had an impact on hundreds of students and was well known for his artistry and pedagogy. He established and served as artistic director for the popular Mozart Birthday Concert, which soon became a beloved annual tradition. He retired from the university in 2017 and continued to remain engaged with students and faculty in the time since through events such as the UNCSA Chamber Music Festival.

Larsen passed away in February — an extraordinary loss to the School of Music and the wider artistic community. However, through his estate plans, he demonstrated that his legacy at UNCSA was far from over.

"Eric Larsen has been a monumental figure in his students' lives,” said School of Music Associate Professor of Piano Dmitri Vorobiev in a tribute to Larsen upon his death. Vorobiev had been a student of Larsen’s and currently serves as the Eric Larsen Distinguished Professor in Piano. “His studio was like a family and we didn't just learn to be better pianists and musicians; we learned how to be better human beings. His wisdom, kindness, care and incredible artistry will forever be in our hearts as it will never be surpassed." 

Soon after Larsen’s death, the university received word of a previously unknown planned gift that he had documented in his will. The School of Music was his primary beneficiary, and the proceeds of his estate are being used to establish a very special scholarship that will also carry his name.

“Future generations of UNCSA musicians are better positioned for success thanks to Eric's generosity.”

School of Music Dean Saxton Rose

“Eric was an outstanding musician and teacher,” said School of Music Dean Saxton Rose. “He had already established an enduring legacy in the School of Music through his years of remarkable work, and the Piano department continues to thrive because of it.”

The School of Music predicts that the gift ­— which totaled nearly $900,000 — will generate more than $30,000 per year in investment income, which is enough to partially fund the educational pursuits of multiple promising pianists.

“We are deeply honored and grateful that he also chose to support the school philanthropically through this gift,” Dean Rose continued. “Future generations of UNCSA musicians are better positioned for success thanks to his generosity.”

By Timothy Young