The
University of Wisconsin School of Music received a donation last month,
allowing the department to provide its first full-ride undergraduate
scholarship program for students majoring in piano and voice, specifically
sopranos.
UW alumni
Glenn and Winifred Skillrud have committed to donate between $150,000 and
$175,000 to the UW Foundation over the next four years to fund the two
scholarships, which will cover the cost of classes, food, books and even
concert dress, UW School of Music Director John Schaffer said.
Schaffer
added the donation is in a trial run, and if the Skillruds are satisfied with
the results after the first four years, they will endow the scholarship
programs. The funding came as a surprise because the UW School of Music has had
no prior relationship with the Skillruds, he said.
According
to Schaffer, the Skillruds were inspired to give the money while watching old
movies from the 1930s. He added they would like to help ensure more classical singers
receive training instead of the ?American Idol?-style popular today.
Schaffer
said he is optimistic the Skillruds will want to continue the scholarships.
?I think
they have every reason to be happy,? he added. ?We don?t teach rock ?n? roll.?
UW voice
professor James Doing said the gift is ?exciting? and ?amazing,? adding
students at the graduate level can obtain fellowships to fund their schooling,
but the Skillruds? gift is the first of its kind for undergraduates at UW.
?We have a
very small pool we can use to partially fund students,? Doing said. ?We?d like
to do more, and now we can.?
In the
absence of a piano scholarship, UW piano professor Catherine Kautsky said she
started UW Piano Partners two years ago along with Martha Fischer, a UW
associate piano professor.
UW Piano
Partners is a group dedicated to raising money for a piano scholarship. Kautsky
said the group gives complimentary CDs to people who donate money.
According
to Doing, the UW music program is consistently among the top 20 in the nation.
He said UW is ?never going to be a Juilliard,? but with donations, the school
will be able to recruit ?better and better people.?
Doing said
UW lacks the ?depth of talent? of other music schools, but the faculty is great,
and some of the students are top talents. ?Our very best students can compete
anywhere,? he added.
Kautsky
said there would not be any special auditions this year for the scholarships,
and the scholarships will be decided from the regular auditions held this past
November, as well as those scheduled in January and February.
Both Doing
and Kautsky said the decision for granting scholarships will not be made until
after all auditions have been heard.