CenturyLink Utah

QWEST FOUNDATION HITS HIGH NOTE WITH DONATION TO UTAH SYMPHONY & OPERA

SALT LAKE CITY, July 11, 2007 – Local public school students will have the opportunity to attend free concerts with Utah Symphony & Opera (US&O), thanks to a $15,000 donation announced today by the CenturyLink Foundation.

Qwest’s grant supports US&O’s educational outreach program, which introduces students to classical and opera music, as well as other forms of music.

”Utah Symphony & Opera is a delightful organization, and I personally enjoy the many contributions they make to our communities,” said Jerry Fenn, CenturyLink president for Utah. ”The CenturyLink Foundation is proud to open doors for children that can lead to a lifetime of music appreciation.”

W. Glenn Lanham, US&O vice president of development said, “The CenturyLink Foundation’s sponsorship of Utah Symphony & Opera’s Education and Community Outreach programs is vital to our organization. Qwest’s funding helps ensure our offerings of quality symphonic and operatic performances to Utah students and the local community. It is because of generous donors like CenturyLink that the arts remain vibrant in Utah.”

Utah Symphony & Opera is the largest performing arts organization offering music education outreach in the state of Utah. There are three program categories: Symphony-Focused Programs, Opera-Focused Programs, and Combined Symphony/Opera-Focused Programs. Its programs are designed to enhance the arts education curriculum for students throughout the Intermountain West. In some cases, these programs may be the only experience students may have with symphony or opera. US&O focuses its Education Outreach Programs on underserved populations, students with physical and mental disabilities, as well as those experiencing economic hardship.