Mourning the Departure: Virginia "Ginny" Mancini (1924-2021)
Ginny Mancini: A Philanthropic Pioneer in Music Education
Ginny Mancini, who passed away on October 25th, 2021, at the age of 97, left an indelible mark on the world of music and education, particularly at UCLA. Born in 1924 to an Irish father and a Mexican mother, Ginny was married to the renowned American composer, conductor, and arranger, Henry Mancini, from September 13, 1947, until his death in 1994.
Ginny Mancini co-founded the Henry Mancini Institute, a prestigious academy for young music professionals, established in 1996 in Henry Mancini’s honor. The institute nurtures the future of music by providing comprehensive professional training and multi-level outreach programs.
Henry Mancini's legacy lives on at UCLA through the Henry Mancini Scholarship for Composition, which Ginny supported for 53 years. Some of Mancini's musical library and works are archived in UCLA’s music library, ensuring continued educational use and inspiration. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation has awarded the "Henry Mancini Music Scholarship" annually since 2001, further extending the support for music education linked to the Mancini legacy.
Ginny Mancini's generosity and compassion extended beyond UCLA. In 2005, the Henry Mancini Arts Academy was opened near Mancini's hometown, offering performing arts programs for children and adults. This demonstrates the family’s commitment to broad access to arts education.
In addition to her philanthropic work, Ginny Mancini sat on several nonprofit boards, including The UCLA Center for the Art of Performance (President Emeritus), The Music Center (Honorary Board of Directors), and the Geffen Playhouse. In a 2014 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Ginny expressed her commitment to nourishing a child's creativity.
As a singer, Ginny performed with Mel Tormé from 1943 to 1946. Ginny Mancini can rest knowing she achieved her goal of promoting the importance of nourishing a child's creativity, and her generosity and compassion will be felt and remembered for generations.
Denis Bouriakov, UCLA's own lecturer who holds the 'Virginia and Henry Mancini' Principal Flute chair at the LA Philharmonic, remembers Ginny Mancini fondly, describing her as kind, generous, and loving music. As an Honorary Life Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Ginny Mancini's impact on music and education will continue to resonate.
Entertainment and celebrities intertwined in Ginny Mancini's life, as she was married to the famous composer Henry Mancini and co-founded the Henry Mancini Institute, a renowned academy for music professionals. Despite her own singing career with Mel Torme, her philanthropic work extended beyond arts education at UCLA, establishing the Henry Mancini Arts Academy and serving on nonprofit boards.
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