Remembering Beloved Supporter Beth Krakower
(December 5, 1971 – September 5, 2018)
We were introduced to Beth Krakower in 2013 when Education Through Music-Los Angeles was just embarking on its 8th year of programming and serving roughly 6,000 students. As a talented publicist, Beth was in high demand – representing creatives in the film industry including television and film composers Lalo Schifrin (Mission Impossible), Jeff Beal (House of Cards), Blake Neely (Arrow, Flash), Clint Martinez (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kafka), Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica), and Alex Wurman (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind), to name a few.
Having grown up playing the viola, Beth immediately connected to our mission of putting music education in disadvantaged schools. Associate Board Member Ronen Landa reflected, “[Beth] quickly realized that ETM-LA was an important organization not only because of its great work in schools, but also because it empowered musicians and music-lovers across Los Angeles to deepen their bonds with their community and with one another. As a youth mentor herself, Beth was a natural fit with our mission.”
In 2014, Beth joined our board’s Public Relations Committee to help build visibility and awareness for ETM-LA’s work. She provided numerous event and PR strategies such as having students perform at sports halftime shows, news, and other TV broadcasts. “Beth exhibited an innate joy in championing others and loved to find ways she could help showcase ETM-LA’s successes and our positive impact on students and their schools. We are forever grateful to her for emboldening us and furthering our mission,” shared Executive Director Victoria Lanier.
Yukiko Kojima, member of the Fund Development / PR Committee remembered, “[We] sawhow much she gave of her talents and energy to Education Through Music-Los Angeles and the kindness, positivity, and generosity of spirit with which she approached everyone and her work. She will be dearly missed.”
“Something remarkable about Beth is how quickly she connected with people on a deep and intuitive level. She had an immense amount of intelligence and profound empathy,” added Associates Board Member Jonathan Beard.
“After years of knowing Beth, it was one phone call while working on a soundtrack release together this year that showed me her amazing spirit and kind heart. In the midst of her [cancer] treatment, she took the time to share some kind words about what I had written, but most importantly gave amazing advice about reviews and critiques that lifted me out of a down spot. I will carry this with me forever thanks to her generous and wise spirit. Beth, we are grateful for all you’ve shared with our community and you’ll be missed by all of us…thankfully, your spirit will be with us forever,” shared Board Member Christopher Lennertz.
This past September 2018, our students and alumni were able to realize their dream of performing at the Staples Center as part of the WNBA Sparks Playoff Game. We are grateful to Beth, who had planted the key seeds for this idea a few years prior. “Beth understood the power of community and the power of giving back. I will miss seeing her in action, doing what she loved to do. But I know that the community that she helped strengthen will pick up the reins, emboldened by her passion and dedication. We will continue striving for our goals with her memory very much alive in our hearts,” shared Landa.
Photo Credit: Thomas Mikusz