New Development: Director's Circle Event Celebrated a Year of Growth

Director Peter Jutras (left) greets HHSOM donors. (Photos by Easel Images)Director Peter Jutras (left) greets HHSOM donors. (Photos by Easel Images)

On April 26, 2024, a couple hours before the final concert of the year, Director Peter Jutras and the faculty and staff welcomed donors to the 2023-24 closing Director’s Circle event. These special events are available for donors who have given support at or above the Director’s Circle level to one of the many scholarships, support funds, and endowments that provide invaluable support to the students.

The evening began with new development associate Levi Hopkins Dean, who rolled out a new and easier way to support the School of Music. “Our website has been redesigned,” said Dean, “and you can now review all available support funds and provide resources for the area of your choice.

“This new web page, music.uga.edu/giving-opportunities-0, explains the different kinds of funds, links to a detailed “How to Give” instructional page, and then breaks down funds into the following categories: director priorities, school-wide funds, ensemble funds, and music area funds.” Dean highlighted some new funds for the African American Choral Ensemble and Ethnomusicology.

Ellyn Evans, assistant professor of music therapy, spoke next about the goals of developing partnerships elsewhere on campus, in particular with the newly established School of Medicine. To bring this point home, Maddie Alexander (BMus ‘24) and Ale Sayers (BMus ‘24) shared stories about the patients they worked with in their practicums that benefited from their work.

Liza Stepanova, professor of piano, shared the details of the 2024 Chamber Music Athens Festival, and introduced students Alexis Boylan (BS, BM ‘23, MM ‘25), violin and Thomas LaMon (MM ‘23, DMA ‘26), cello, before the trio played a piece by composer Antonín Dvořák.

HHSOM director of public relations Shaun Baer spoke next. “With the introduction of ‘Sforzando,’ a  regular ad campaign in Flagpole, and an uptick in social media,” Baer said, “we’ve seen a 25% increase in ticket sales and a 20% increase in overall attendance for our concerts.”

Donors were also excited to hear S. Jack Hu, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, make his case for supporting the School of Music. With increased support from the Office of the Provost, the School of Music will be able to replace nearly 15 upright pianos in its practice rooms, with a goal of replacing an additional one or two pianos each year.

“But the School of Music needs your support for so much more of what they do,” he said. Hu and his wife have been generous supporters of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music as well as the UGA Performing Arts Center.

Director Peter Jutras closed by celebrating the donors, faculty, and students, sharing a heartfelt farewell as he announced his departure for Cincinnati. He assured everyone that “the School of Music is well in hand and will continue moving forward.”