BRANCA ENDOWS MUSIC INSTITUTE AT OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE

Attorney John Branca has endowed his alma mater, Occidental College, with a $5m gift to establish the John Branca Institute for Music Education. Occidental associate professor of music David Kasunic will serve as the Institute's director.

Once the Institute is up and running, it will allow Occidental's music department to offer a "wider focus" on current music, expand its business-related curriculum and develop high-tech sound production facilities for its students.

Meanwhile, the Institute will work with community colleges such as Los Angeles City College to increase transfer opportunities for students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Special programming and research initiatives will also be created in tandem with the Harvard Negotiation Project, led by Harvard Business School professor Jim Sebenius.

Ziffren Brittenham partner Branca graduated from Occidental in 1972 before embarking on a career working with such legends as Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones. He has served as one of the college's trustees since 2003.

"John is a giant in the music business and he is a true believer in the kind of personalized teaching and learning that can only happen at a small liberal arts college,” said Occidental College President Harry Elam (pictured with Branca). “John’s gift, coupled with the state-of-the-art music production facilities we already have in place, will make Occidental a truly exceptional place to study music. We are so grateful to John for his generosity and vision in supporting the John Branca Institute for Music Education."

If you need us, we'll be back at the dorms rolling jazz cigarettes on a near-mint copy of Steely Dan's Aja.