POTSDAM -- The Potsdam College Foundation is receiving more than $1.6 million from the estate of late Crane School of Music Professor Brock McElheran and his wife, librarian Jane Munro McElheran.

The McElherans' gifts will ensure funding in perpetuity for the Crane School and programs that were special to them both, said Dean of the Crane School of Music Michael Sitton.

The couple’s gift has provided support to enhance the existing McElheran Visiting Artist Series endowment established by a former student of McElheran's.

The McElheran Visiting Artist Series brings international-caliber performing artists to Potsdam through a partnership with Community Performance Series, for performances and masterclasses and workshops, such as those to be conducted by acclaimed pianist Emanuel Ax at Crane this weekend.

"Through the impact of their historic bequests, an additional dimension is added to Brock and Janie's legacy. The McElherans' vision for Crane and their passionate advocacy for music and music students will be felt every year as their wonderful gifts continue to support the School and to benefit its students and faculty in perpetuity," Sitton said. "We are deeply grateful for these bequests, and their efforts will be profound indeed."

The McElherans' gifts have also added to the N. Brock McElheran String Scholarship endowment, to assist talented string students to attend Crane.

Their bequest has allowed the College Foundation to establish endowments for the Crane Symphony Orchestra and for the greatest needs of Crane.

In addition, their gift has provided funds to support the school's 125th anniversary, which is being celebrated this year and next.

To find out more about the many events planned to recognize 125 years of a tradition of innovation at The Crane School of Music, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/125years.

McElheran established an international reputation as a choral conductor and taught thousands of choral and instrumental conductors during a 40-year career at Crane. He joined the faculty in 1947 as Helen M. Hosmer's assistant conductor. Known as "Mr. Mac" to his students, McElheran conducted the Crane Chorus from 1969 to 1988.

Jane Munro McElheran served for 35 years as the children's librarian at the former SUNY Potsdam Congdon Campus School, and was a mentor to many school children, college students, future teachers and choral conductors at Crane. During her career at the college, she developed an outstanding teaching library and was instrumental in educating prospective teachers about effective methods for incorporating library resources into the learning experience.