Growing up in Lewiston, Andrew Pelletier ’95 got an early glimpse of college life as a member of the Portland Symphony Youth Ensembles. Week after week, he traveled to USM’s Gorham campus to rehearse in Corthell Hall, quickly finding himself folded into the close-knit community of musicians. “When it came time to choose a college, the decision was clear,” he recalls. “I knew I was meant to continue studying at USM, surrounded by amazing faculty and a supportive environment I had already grown to love.”
That choice became the foundation of a remarkable career. At USM, Andrew performed with the Portland Symphony and studied with mentors like Jim Decker and Toshi Shimada, experiences that led him to pursue graduate study at the University of Southern California. Today, he is a Grammy Award–winning chamber musician, an internationally recognized horn soloist, and a professor at Bowling Green State University. Looking back, he credits USM with providing not only professional training but also the space to experiment, grow, and build lifelong friendships and mentors.
Now, Andrew has chosen to honor that legacy through philanthropy. He has named a teaching studio in the new Crewe Center for the Arts in memory of Peter Martin— beloved professor, conductor, and champion of music in Maine. And he has named a seat in the new Performance Hall. For Andrew, these gifts reflect his belief that state universities can be transformed by dedicated philanthropy. “This building is about possibility,” he says. “It ensures students will have the same life-changing opportunities USM gave me.”