A major endowment in memory of Richard Pulley will allow the Sydney Conservatorium to expand its regional buddy program.

The University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music has received a $500,000 gift from the family of Sydney violinist and pianist Richard Pulley (1969-2014). The endowment will assist in the expansion of the Conservatorium’s successful ‘buddy program’, established in 2013 to bridge the gap between city and regional music conservatoriums. Given in memory of Pulley, a past beneficiary of the Con, the gift ensures that the teaching and mentoring program will continue to discover and support music talent in regional New South Wales.

^{Students from the University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music performing at Dubbo Regional Conservatorium. Photo: supplied}

Louise Grinham, a relative of Pulley and Director of the family’s CLEARbridge Foundation, said: “As humble as my cousin Richard was, we felt he would have been honoured to be associated with such a valuable and extensive music program.” Grinham hopes that with the Con, her family will “provide today’s young musicians, particularly in regional areas, with an ample level of support and encouragement to assist them in developing their passion and aptitude...