In October 2019, Joe Valente endowed this chair in memory of his wife Melanie who sat on the board of the Fort Collins Symphony and was a Symphony Season ticket holder since moving to Fort Collins in 2001. Melanie & Joe enjoyed many adventures traveling all over the world. She was an avid hiker, conquering six 14ers around Colorado, and loved to snowshoe, snorkel, bird watch and garden. Fort Collins composer Chris Pilsner was commissioned to write a new piece of music to honor the 70th anniversary of the Fort Collins Symphony and in memory of Melanie. The piece debuted at the first concert of the 2019-20 Season.
