‘Transformational’ gift supports Lied Center’s classical music offerings

Anabeth Hormel Cox of Lincoln announced a major gift to enable Nebraska to host the most accomplished and sought-after musicians in the world.

ABOUT THIS PHOTO: Anabeth Hormel Cox, left, and her late husband, Ted Cox, right, meet cellist Yo-Yo Ma in Lincoln.

A major gift to the Lied Center for Performing Arts was announced March 30, 2017, at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and was hailed as being transformative for the future of live classical music programming in Lincoln.

The gift will enable the Lied Center to showcase some of the most accomplished and sought-after classical music artists and performance companies in the world.

Anabeth Hormel Cox of Lincoln announced her outright and planned gifts today that establish a fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation to benefit the Lied Center’s public offerings of classical music performances. At the donor’s request the donation amount was not disclosed.

“My gift is intended to perpetuate the contribution the Lied Center makes to the culture of our region,” Hormel Cox said prior to the Lied Center mainstage celebration of the gift today.

Lied Center Executive Director Bill Stephan said it’s because of support from people like Anabeth that the university is an international leader in presenting the performing arts.

“We are so grateful for Anabeth’s gift which will enable us to present artists we have only been able to dream about bringing to our venue in the past,” Stephan said. “Beyond our stage, her support will enrich the artistic education of thousands of young people in Nebraska classrooms. This is a transformative gift, one that will enhance the cultural fabric of Nebraska for generations.”

Nebraskans and others throughout the region won’t need to travel to New York, Los Angeles or other major cities to see the world’s leading orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic or Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and others, Lied Center Artistic Director Ann Chang said.

“These renowned organizations will be performing on the Nebraska campus at the Lied Center,” Chang said. “With Anabeth’s incredible generosity, we also will be able to program a greater number of iconic classical soloists, including András Schiff, Murray Perahia, Daniel Barenboim and others.”

Anabeth Hormel Cox, 77, says music is a central part of her life, as she always has music playing in her home and enjoys attending as many music performances as she can. She has supported various arts organizations within the community and enjoys spending time with her three daughters and nine grandchildren.

She grew up in McCook, Nebraska, and remembers music was always playing in her childhood home. Her parents, Thalma Lowe Hormel and Benjamin Franklin Hormel Jr., played a major role in the love she and her sister, MarySue, have for music. Her father played the saxophone, and one day as a surprise to his family he purchased a piano for them to enjoy. He delighted in learning to play the piano together with his daughters.

Anabeth and her husband, Lawrence Frazier, moved to Lincoln in 1969 where they raised their family. Lawrence served at Farmers Mutual of Nebraska as corporate counsel and then president and CEO. He died in 1998.

She later married attorney Edwin “Ted” Cox who was an accomplished musician and recognized authority on classical and New Age music who wrote reviews and articles on those genres. Before moving to Lincoln he enjoyed a long legal career in New York City and Washington, D.C., including service in President George H.W. Bush’s administration. He became an active member of Lincoln’s music and arts community, working for Nebraska Public Radio and serving two terms on the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra board of directors. He died unexpectedly in 2015.

Following the gift announcement, the Lied Center revealed the 2017-18 Season of Lied Center classical artists, which includes:

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Andre Watts, October 12, 2017

2017 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist, October 24, 2017

Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet, February 21, 2018

Olga Kern, Piano, March 27, 2018

A Celebration of Philip Glass, April 17, 2018

Vadym Kholodenko, Piano, April 24, 2018

Media contacts:

Matthew Boring, Marketing Manager, Lied Center, 402-730-1038, mboring2@unl.edu

Robb Crouch, PR Director, NU Foundation, 402-458-1142, robb.crouch@nufoundation.org