Ask Dave Turner ’72 about a memorable moment from his undergraduate experience at Geneseo, and he’ll tell you about the time a fellow chamber singer came to his rescue during a wardrobe malfunction.
“We were at a statewide choral festival, and I discovered a huge hole in my sock right before going on,” Turner recalls. “One of the other singers found some black paint backstage and quickly painted my ankle so it looked like I was wearing intact socks. It’s one of those crazy, unforgettable moments that make you appreciate your fellow performers’ camaraderie and quick thinking.”
That memory and countless others are why Turner feels inspired to support initiatives that enhance such opportunities for Geneseo students. His contributions to the Geneseo Chamber Singers and, most recently, to the Alan Case Practice Room Piano Fund reflect this belief.
“Music is an enrichment experience,” Turner explains. “I’m not sure if anyone can go through life without being impacted and influenced by the presence of music, whether you’re musical or not.”
Turner majored in geography and urban studies, but calls his four years with the Chamber Singers a life-altering experience. “I was a member of the first European concert tour of the Chamber Singers in 1971,” Turner says. “You can certainly get a good education at Geneseo, but one way to understand that there’s a big wide world out there is to get out in it.”
Giving back to Geneseo is personal for Turner, rooted in the constraints he faced as a student. “Fifty years ago, we had to beg, borrow, and steal to go on our annual tours because the College didn’t have the funds,” he recalls. “I want to make sure that students coming after me can enjoy these experiences without the financial strain.”
In May 2023, Geneseo established the practice room piano fund to honor Alan Case—a collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and musical director in the Department of Music and Musical Theatre who passed away unexpectedly in 2014 after more than 30 years of service. The fund aims to maintain and replace pianos essential for students across campus to practice their craft and improve their performance skills.
In just one year, the fund has already made a significant impact. “Our current pianos are in poor condition and, on average, are over 50 years old,” says Gerard Floriano ’84, distinguished service professor of music and conducting. “Thanks to this fund, we have taken delivery of two new Steinway Boston upright pianos.They have been tuned and placed in practice rooms and are awaiting students’ arrival in the fall.”
“Seeing students perform now, I feel the same exhilaration I did all those years ago,” Turner says. “It’s a joy to know that my contributions help to create those unforgettable moments for others.”
