About Us
The American Beethoven Society is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the creative genius of Beethoven, whose music speaks to the heart and mind of humanity.
The Society’s primary work is the creation and support of a comprehensive collection of Beethoven materials at the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies at San Jose State University, San Jose, California. The Center is the largest research institution in the Americas devoted solely to the life, works, and accomplishments of Ludwig van Beethoven. Today the collection contains more than 31,000 items, including more than 360 first editions and 3,500 early editions of Beethoven’s musical scores, some original Beethoven manuscripts, a large collection of Beethoven-related books, sculpture and artwork, and sound and visual media, and Beethoven realia (including 2 locks of his hair and one of his shirts).
The Society co-publishes a semiannual Beethoven Newsletter, in addition to the Beethoven Journal, which is now in an online format only. The Society also sponsors the New Beethoven Research Conference and supports a research award for early-career scholars. The Society helps support the Beethoven Gateway, an online research tool and gateway to the Beethoven Center’s digital resources. The Society collaborates with the Center on special events, exhibits, and other activities.
OUR PARTNER, THE IRA F. BRILLIANT CENTER FOR BEETHOVEN STUDIES, is an extensive library and museum devoted solely to the life, works, and accomplishments of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). Established in 1983 when Ira F. Brilliant donated his Beethoven collection to San José State University, the Center officially opened in September 1985 with a gala co-sponsored by the San Jose Symphony. Building on Ira Brilliant’s original donation, the Center now has the largest collection of Beethoven materials outside of Europe. In addition to functioning as a research library and museum, the Center is involved in a variety of educational programs and sponsors concerts, lectures, tours, and other events. Long-term projects include publication of The Beethoven Journal and development of the Center’s online catalog, the Beethoven Gateway. The Center is also the headquarters for the American Beethoven Society.
ABS also supports the Beethoven Gateway, a system of online databases developed by the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies designed to help in the discovery of resources on the composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
American Beethoven Society
Karin Brock, Administrator
Ann Dariano, Bookkeeper
Executive Board
Charlene Archibeque
Bonnie Bamburg
Robert Brilliant, Vice President
Erica Buurman, Director
Bruce Clausen
Fred Cohen
Sue Collier
Deborah Davis
Paul Ellison, President
Chris Hepp
Thuy Le
Ted Lorraine, Secretary
Michael Meth
Shannon Miller
Mona Onstead
Bill Palmer, Treasurer and Membership
Marilyn Sefchovich
Richard Sogg
Patricia Stroh, Curator
Honorary Members
Theodore Albrecht
Thomas H. Bailey
Kevin Brown
Bathia Churgin
Alessandra Comini
Richard Goode
James F. Green
Leonid Grin
Paul Hertelendy
Stephen Hinton
Brian Holmes
Douglas Johnson
Susan Kagan
Peter E. Kalen
William Kinderman
Victoria Kokoras
David Levy
William Meredith
Christopher Reynolds
Sandra Rosenblum
Michael Tilson Thomas
