Born in Sicily, Italy, MARC VON MAY pursued his education in Switzerland and France, earning both a French law degree and a doctorate in French business law, common law, and international management. His career began at Nestlé and Citibank before transitioning into tax consulting. In 1993, he moved to New York City, where he established himself as an investment advisor.
Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. von May has a deep passion for dance, inspired by the Latin phrase mens sana in corpore sano—“a sound mind in a sound body.” He firmly believes that movement enhances reason, stating, “When you move your body, your reason starts improving.”
His dedication to the arts is reflected in his philanthropic contributions to Peabody. He has established two four-year named scholarships for voice students at the Peabody Conservatory and has been a strong supporter of the Dance Training Program for Boys, which offers free lessons to students from Baltimore City public schools. Further solidifying his commitment, Mr. von May has also signed a generous bequest intention to support dance at the Peabody Preparatory and voice at the Peabody Conservatory, ensuring his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of artists.
Held by Zane Forshee
ZANE FORSHEE is the Marc C. von May Distinguished Chair of Professional Studies, Director of Peabody LAUNCHPad, and a guitar faculty member at the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University. An internationally recognized performer, he has appeared at renowned venues such as the Palacete de Amezúa in Madrid, the Joseph Joachim Konzertsaal in Berlin, the Library of Congress, and the Chimei Museum in Taiwan. His collaborative work spans disciplines, partnering with choreographer danah bella, percussionist Gene Koshinski, film composer Christian Biegai, and artistic polymath Wendel Patrick.
His latest recording, Valenciano: Guitar Works of Asencio, Esplá & Rodrigo, topped Amazon’s Classical Music Chart and reached No. 6 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart. A recipient of numerous accolades, Forshee has been honored as a Fulbright Scholar, Wigmore Hall Charitable Trust recipient, and Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artist Awardee. He also received a Peabody Institute Dean’s Incentive Grant for his research collaboration with Johns Hopkins’ Department of Neurology, studying the impact of guitar lessons on Parkinson’s disease patients.
A sought-after educator, Forshee has presented masterclasses and lectures at institutions including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Edinburgh, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. As Baltimore City Paper aptly notes, “Those who cannot do, teach. Apparently Zane Forshee didn’t get the memo.”
