Robert Cole (1931–2026) was a musical force of nature. As a performer and administrator, his accolade-laden career stretched for seven decades, most notably as the longtime director of Cal Performances, where he made Berkeley into an international arts destination. His love for early music inspired him to create the biennial Berkeley Festival & Exhibition in 1990, lauded as "a remarkable institution on the American musical scene" by The New York Times. His support of the Bay Area's early music community was also exemplified by his leadership at SFEMS, which culminated in him serving as board president from 2014–2017, and leading his final Festival in 2018.

We are grateful and humbled to receive gifts in memory of Robert Cole's extraordinary artistic legacy. With your generosity and involvement, SFEMS can look forward to many more years of providing the best in early music to the Bay Area, just as Robert would have wanted it.