Fritzie Culick’s relationship with the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM) began in 1985 when she joined the faculty as a Suzuki piano teacher. At the time, PCM operated out of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church on North Allen, and Fritzie was one of eight dedicated instructors committed to establishing a community music school in Pasadena. “Those days were a lot of fun,” she recalls. “The people on our faculty were so musical, so full of a sense of humor, so self-deprecating. We had a great time.”

Beyond PCM, Fritzie’s contributions to the musical community have been great. She has served on numerous boards, including the Pasadena Symphony, Pasadena Chamber Orchestra, and Pasadena Community Orchestra. She also spent many years as the assistant organist at All Saints Episcopal Church and developed the music programs at both St. Mark’s School and the Chandler School, where she also served as music director. In addition to her teaching, Fritzie opened Old Town Music in 1979, a beloved local music store that served countless students and teachers in the San Gabriel Valley. (She and her late husband, Fred, already had experience running a business as founders of the Pasadena Ice Skating Center in 1975.)

Fritzie’s love of music began as a child. Encouraged by her parents, she attended community concerts, sang, and learned numerous instruments. In addition to piano, Fritzie learned to play the clarinet, oboe, and viola. As an adult, Fritzie’s home became a hub for music and community, hosting private concerts for Southwest Chamber Music, including one featuring soprano Elissa Johnston performing a piece by Grawemeyer Award winner, Chinary Ung. Many renowned musicians passed through (and stayed in) their home, including conductor Kent Nagano and his wife.

Though she eventually stepped away from teaching at PCM, Fritzie remained a part of its community. She has attended many student and faculty performances, participated in chamber choir, and watched PCM evolve over the decades. Highlights for her include the addition of Barrett Hall and the music library in 2014, both of which have expanded PCM’s role as a space for music education and performance. “What I’ve loved seeing are those little steps of growth,” she shares. “Providing a place for the community to use for concerts as well as [PCM’s]… That’s been wonderful.”

Her long history with PCM and belief in its mission inspired Fritzie and Fred to include the Conservatory in their will. Drawing from her experience encouraging Wellesley College classmates to consider planned giving, she views estate planning as a practical way to support music education. “It’s a way to make things grow,” she explains, highlighting the lasting impact of legacy giving.

For Fritzie, this gift ensures PCM can continue providing a home for music education for generations to come. With three adult children and four grandchildren, her legacy is a personal investment in the future – one that reflects her lifelong commitment to music and community.

Visit our website for more information about PCM’s Legacy Society, or contact Melissa Froehlich at 626-683-3355 ext. 107 or mfroehlich@pasadenaconservatory.org about how you can include PCM in your estate plans.