Building Tomorrow: The Enduring Legacy of Ian Cumming and Family
The Perlman Music Program (PMP) proudly dedicates this year’s Summer Gala to the visionary leadership and enduring philanthropic legacy of the late Ian Cumming (1940-2018), alongside his wife, Annette, and sons, John and David. Ian’s unique brilliance lay in his ability to blend deep generosity with rigorous strategic foresight—forever altering the trajectory of our organization.
A Foundation of Strategic Foresight
Ian did more than provide critical funding; he challenged PMP to think decades ahead. In 2009, the Cumming family partnered with the Stark family to fund the Stires-Stark Cumming rehearsal facility. Before breaking ground, Ian wisely insisted on a comprehensive campus survey, ensuring that our immediate progress would simultaneously protect PMP’s long-term future.
Today, that 2009 survey is the bedrock of our campus's greatest evolution. PMP is currently revitalizing our 28-acre waterfront home on Shelter Island, preserving its historic charm while engineering a world-class environment for the next generation. Major updates are already successfully underway in Phase I.
A History of Generous Hospitality
The Cumming family’s long-standing support for PMP is defined by their personal generosity. Annette and Ian hosted the PMP Summer Gala at their East Hampton home in 2011 and again for the landmark 20th Anniversary Gala in 2014. These successful events brought the community together to celebrate the organization's mission. John and Kristi Cumming kept this family tradition alive by co-hosting the Summer Gala with Annette in 2025.
A Lifetime of Quiet Leadership
Beyond his transformative role at PMP, Ian was a towering figure in business and civic life, though he spent his life deliberately avoiding public recognition.
Corporate Excellence: As the longtime Chairman and CEO of Leucadia National Corporation until 2013, Ian rebuilt the holding company into a diversified global powerhouse.
Civic & Environmental Service: He dedicated his leadership to the national board of The Nature Conservancy, the Utah State Board of Regents, and served as the inaugural chair of the Utah Sports Authority.
The Cumming Foundation: Together with Annette—his wife of 40 years, a former intensive care nurse and Trustee of the Cumming Foundation—Ian advanced education, medical research, environmental conservation, and the arts.
We invite you to join us at this year's Summer Gala as we honor Ian’s memory and celebrate the Cumming family legacy. Together, we are building a vibrant future for classical music by championing rising stars, ensuring their talents continue to inspire and resonate for generations to come.
