Empowering Excellence
Shaping the Future of Harp Performance
The Patrick Stanfill & Jeff Gidley Chair of Harp Studies A Legacy Gift Honoring Two Incredible Individuals
Harp Beats
Where Music Thrives | Championing Musicianship through Leadership Patrick and Jeff, we are deeply grateful for your
Jeff, though not a UNT alumnus, your quiet but vital role in this journey is deeply felt. Your engagement with Patrick’s musical life, your appreciation of the arts and your support of UNT’s mission reveal a shared vision of impact and community. Your leadership in organizations like Black Tie Dinner underscores your dedication to philanthropy and inclusion — values we share deeply here at UNT. Together, you exemplify how legacy can live on through education, music and meaningful relationships. By continuing to invest in UNT’s harp program, you not only strengthen a tradition of excellence — you’re building an enduring tribute to your lives, passions and values. Your generosity and leadership have already left a meaningful mark on our students and faculty, and so it’s with sincere appreciation that we encourage you to consider securing your UNT legacy within the harp program you have long championed.
combined support and commitment to the University of North Texas. Patrick, as a proud UNT alumnus, your story embodies what we hope for in every student: a deep connection to their studies, a passion that transcends the classroom and a lasting desire to give back. While you pursued a degree in business, your heart remained with the harp — evident in your years of continued performance, your involvement with the American Harp Society and your ongoing advocacy for harp education. The Patrick Stanfill Scholarship Endowment for Harp established in 2011 was a milestone for our program. Your initial $25,000 gift became the very first endowed harp scholarship at UNT. Since then, your continued contributions and thoughtful planning of a $250,000 legacy gift demonstrate a profound commitment to ensuring that future generations of harpists enjoy the same opportunities you did.
The Patrick Stanfill & Jeff Gidley Endowed Chair in Harp Studies
$1.5M
“When I was looking at colleges, UNT was one of my top choices. It has one of the strongest music programs, and once I got to know more about the harp professor, Dr. Haefner, I knew that she and the college would help me establish a career as a harpist once I get my degree.” Paulina Delgadillo
Paulina’s words capture the heart of what makes UNT’s harp program exceptional: the power of transformative mentorship. In a competitive field like harp performance, visionary faculty do more than teach — they launch careers.
Dr. Jaymee Haefner exemplifies this impact, positioning students for success through global adjudication, leadership and personal investment. To sustain and grow this legacy, we must remain competitive in recruiting the next generation of harp faculty. Your gift will ensure that UNT continues to attract world-class educators, produce career-ready graduates and host signature events like the Patrick Stanfill and Jeff Gidley Annual Harp Day. The Patrick Stanfill & Jeff Gidley Chair in Harp Studies will propel UNT’s standing as a global leader in harp research through initiatives like the future Center for International Harp Research, already in progress thanks to Dr. Haefner’s visionary efforts.
Where Music Endures | Experiential Based Learning Grounded in real-world learning, the UNT Harp Studies program prepares students not just to perform, but to thrive as professionals. Experiential opportunities like summer camps, competitions and masterclasses create vital touchpoints for both current and prospective students, engaging young musicians early, building a strong pipeline from K–12 to UNT and fostering deep connections to the program. Faculty-led initiatives provide immersive experiences that extend far beyond the classroom, developing confidence and readiness. With sustained investment, UNT is poised to become a leading site for major national events, such as the USA International Harp Competition — a long-standing dream of Dr. Haefner’s. By embedding these high-impact experiences into the core of the student journey, UNT affirms its place as a training ground for the next generation of harpists through global adjudication, leadership and personal investment. To sustain and grow this legacy, UNT must remain competitive in recruiting the next generation of harp faculty. The Patrick Stanfill & Jeff Gidley Endowed Chair of Harp Studies will ensure that UNT continues to attract world-class educators, produce career-ready graduates and host signature events like the Patrick Stanfill and Jeff Gidley Annual Harp Day . It will also propel UNT’s standing as a global leader in harp research through initiatives like the future Center for International Harp Research, already in progress thanks to Dr. Haefner’s visionary efforts.
Where Music Advances | Creating Opportunities True to its legacy of excellence, the UNT harp studies program offers students the chance to showcase their talents on national and international stages — experiences that launch careers and raise the program’s profile. Dedicated funding will enable students to travel to major competitions and festivals, participate in UNT’s acclaimed harp ensemble, Harp Beats, and gain critical résumé-building experiences. These activities not only elevate the students’ careers but also promote UNT’s reputation globally. Recent successes, such as current students advancing as finalists in the American Harp Society Competition, reflect the caliber of training and the potential of each investment. Strategic marketing efforts, presence at international congresses and visibility in major harp publications are essential tools that enable UNT to compete with top-tier programs like the Cleveland Institute of Music, Eastman and FSU. These opportunities position students for professional success while ensuring the continued advancement of the program itself. Where Music Nourishes | An Environment of Belonging A thriving music program is built not only on talent and vision, but also on a deeply supportive environment — one where students feel seen, heard and valued. At UNT, that environment is nurtured through flexibility, care and access to essential resources. Funding allows the harp professor to address the evolving needs of students and the program, whether it be travel, programming, outreach or simply replacing a harp string. With instruments seeing up to 20 hours of use per day, maintenance and replacement are not luxuries, but necessities. Your support also affirms a culture where faculty do not have to shoulder these burdens alone — a culture that honors the shared responsibility of excellence. A Note of Sincere Thanks Patrick and Jeff, we are deeply grateful that you would consider a gift of this significance to the University of North Texas College of Music. Your generosity will provide students with the tools and support they need to flourish, not only as artists, but also as empowered members of a creative, inclusive community. We would be honored to help you build a giving plan that meets your financial and philanthropic goals, while ensuring that your vision is realized in a way that is personal, lasting and inspiring. Your legacy will resonate in every rehearsal, every performance and every dream pursued by the harpists who follow in your footsteps. Cherése Bassett-Sowell John W. Richmond Executive Director of Development Dean 940-565-2243 Professor of Music Education cherese.bassett@unt.edu john.richmond@unt.edu
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