Year after year, the Lynn University Conservatory of Music assembles a dream team of gifted young musicians from around the world with the aim to establish the ultimate standard for music education worldwide. There, in the first line of its mission statement, lies the roots of the conservatory’s success. And as with any great performance, the captivated audience may never see what takes place behind the curtain to make it all possible.

However, an exclusive group of music enthusiasts has earned the right to peek behind the curtain as they champion Lynn's high-quality music education through fundraising initiatives and community outreach. Meet the Friends of the Conservatory of Music.

"The Friends," as they are endearingly called by those who know them, are a volunteer organization that was assembled by Rita Hobbs in 2003. Hobbs, a respected leader in the Boca Raton community, turned her gaze toward Lynn when the Harid Music Conservatory became part of the university. Lynn immediately felt the financial pressure of the merger when they realized they needed to purchase a considerable number of pianos for student lessons. Many in the university saw a monumental challenge ahead of them; Hobbs saw the opportunity of a lifetime. She envisioned a small "friends group" to support the university.