The Sam Coryell Excellence Fund Creating Opportunities for Students in Choral Studies “There is the music of heaven in all things, and we have forgotten how to hear it until we sing.” - Saint Hildegard of Bingen (c. 1098-1179)
As the University of North Texas embarks on a new fundraising campaign focused on student success, we are pleased to present this strategic and timely philanthropic opportunity – one that aligns so well with your passions and values, while concurrently enriching the professional preparation of our choral music students, thus equipping them for success in the global choral community. With this objective in mind, we respectfully request a gift of $500,000 to establish the: SAM CORYELL EXCELLENCE FUND IN CHORAL STUDIES
• Choral Artist in Residence Fund • Choral Student Residency Fund • Choral Ensemble Travel Fund • Choral Scholarships/Fellowships
Where Music Equips Immersive experiences with accomplished performers, scholars, composers and conductors are invaluable for the artistic and professional development of choral musicians and conductors. Resident artists provide high-level mentorship and fresh artistic/pedagogical/scholarly perspectives that develop the professional and artistic acumen of choral performers and conductors. Through new repertoire, innovative rehearsal techniques and unique interpretive insights that challenge and inspire both students and faculty, resident artists cultivate a dynamic learning environment that elevates artistry and deepens UNT’s connections to the global choral community. For conductors, a residency presents opportunities for professional dialogue and collaboration, fostering growth in leadership and vision. The Sam Coryell Choral Artist-in-Residence Fund As many as three of the world’s finest choral conductors would come to UNT for extended residencies to rehearse UNT choirs and mentor graduate conducting students. The College of Music also would curate opportunities to share these outstanding Coryell Resident Choral Artists with the larger Texas choral music community.
"We are in a position, as musicians, to touch the souls of those who listen." President Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball (1982), 520
Where Music Empowers Collegiate choral musicians who participate in student residencies at prestigious institutions (domestic or international) experience the rare opportunity to rehearse and perform under the guidance of internationally renowned choral professionals, exposing them to different conducting styles, new repertoire, and imaginative rehearsal techniques. In both American and global contexts, students gain firsthand insights into the professional expectations and standards of leading choral institutions. These residencies also expand students’ professional networks, opening doors to graduate studies, auditions, and future employment opportunities within the global choral community. Engaging with elite institutions and artists helps a student develop the versatility, confidence and connections essential for a successful transition into a professional music career. The Sam Coryell Excellence Fund for Choral Student Residencies and Internships Venues for these residencies could include any of the following: Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, England); Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Cardiff, Wales); Hochschule für Musik Würzburg (Würzburg, Germany); or Trinity Church Wall Street, New York City.
Where Music Engages Competitions and touring are vital to the growth and development of a collegiate choir. Experiences that extend beyond performance offer students a chance to engage with diverse audiences, cultures and musical traditions. Domestic tours help choirs build a national presence, foster alumni and community connections and promote their institution’s mission. International tours provide unique opportunities for cultural exchange, broadening students’ world views and enhancing their adaptability and musicianship. Whether traveling across the country or around the globe, touring strengthens the choir’s cohesion, deepens its artistic expression and leaves indelible impressions on both performers and audiences alike. The Sam Coryell Choral Travel Fund Students would enjoy opportunities like the A Cappella Choir International Tour and Competition in Slovenia, the University Singers to National Collegiate Choral Organization, and appearances before the American Choral Directors Association and Texas Music Educators Association.
A Note of Thanks Mr. Coryell, we are deeply grateful that you would consider a gift of this magnitude to the University of North Texas. The philanthropic opportunities we’ve presented align directly with three of the core pillars President Keller has identified as essential to the university’s mission: 1. Sponsored Projects and External Partnerships | The touring and residency programs created with your gift will enable our students to build meaningful professional relationships with choral conductors and singers from around the world, expanding their networks and gaining valuable real-world experience. 2. Scholarships and Fellowships | Your investment will open doors to transformative experiences that would otherwise be out of reach for many students. Scholarships ensure equitable access to high-impact opportunities, regardless of a student’s financial background. 3. Coaching and Mentorship | By bringing leading figures in the choral field to UNT, we will provide students with direct access to world-class musical and professional mentorship. Additionally, participation in international choral competitions will expose students to the highest levels of performance, broadening their artistic perspective and elevating their aspirations. Your life and leadership exemplify the principle that “to whom much is given, much is required.” Your deep appreciation for the education you received at the UNT College of Music — and the discipline, perseverance and aesthetic sensitivity it instilled — clearly helped shape your success in multifamily development and your broader civic contributions. As President Harrison Keller has said, “My most formative lessons about leadership, discipline, perseverance and cooperation, I learned from music!” Your journey powerfully affirms that truth. In that same spirit, we respectfully ask you to consider a lead gift of $500,000 to help us bring to life a vision that honors the values and training you gained at UNT — one that blends excellence, purpose and a lasting legacy of impact.
Thank you for being a champion of UNT!
Cherése Bassett-Sowell
John W. Richmond, Ph.D. Professor and Dean
Executive Director of Development
College of Music
College of Music
940-565-2243 | cherese.bassett@unt.edu
john.richmond@unt.edu
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