Michigan Muse Fall 2026 > Giving Update
Giving Update
The Friends of Musical Theatre group supports alumni visits, including this October 2025 event with Ben Ahlers (BFA ’19, musical theatre; center right, wearing white shirt), pictured with students, faculty, and members of the Friends of Musical Theatre. Photo: Peter Smith
True Friendship: SMTD’s Friends Groups Offer Far More Than Financial Support
Members of SMTD’s Friends organizations – Friends of Dance, Friends of Musical Theatre, Friends of Opera, and Friends of Theatre & Drama – are well aware that the relationship between the Friends and SMTD students is special.
The Friends are annual supporters who have made a gift of any amount to benefit one or more of the given disciplines, but they are more than donors: they are devoted fans, passionate boosters, and patrons of the arts. They give to SMTD because they care deeply about student success and about sustaining the future of the performing arts.
The funds raised through the Friends organizations support students in a variety of ways. They provide vital financial assistance to students in need, helping them make ends meet at critical moments in their education. They enable the departments to invite guest artists to campus for master classes, Q&A sessions, and performances – visits that enrich and expand upon the lessons imparted by faculty, exposing students to new perspectives from an array of professionals.
The Friends of Theatre & Drama funded a recent tour of the production of Julius Caesar (originally performed in the Arthur Miller Theatre) to Michigan prisons. Photo: Peter Smith
The Friends also support performance opportunities, including funding for the chamber operas presented each year by the Department of Voice & Opera and for the annual Friends of Opera Competition. They broaden students’ educational horizons, subsidizing dance students’ summer studies abroad and funding the recent tour of the Department of Theatre & Drama’s production of Julius Caesar to prisons across the state of Michigan. And the Friends provide support for the dance and musical theatre senior showcases in New York City, which serve as indispensable introductions to agents and other key industry professionals.
One priceless way the Friends support SMTD students is simply by showing up – attending performances, cheering students on, and taking a keen interest in their educational and artistic progress. While Friends enjoy membership benefits, including priority ticket purchasing and invitations to exclusive events and special performances, they can also revel in the intangibles: the gratification of making a real difference in students’ lives, and the excitement of witnessing gifted young artists as they come into their own.
The Friends of Opera group supports the department’s chamber operas, including this 2025 production of Le Tragédie de Carmen. Photo: Robert Coelius
The Friends of Dance group supports the department’s senior showcase, seen here being performed at the Gibney in New York City in 2026.
Investing in Student Success
Building scholarships and other resources to support SMTD students remains our top priority, and we extend our sincere gratitude to the following individuals who have recently established new funds or made significant gifts to existing funds.
Frank Bernacki (BA ’70, MA ’72) and Valerie Evers Bernacki (BA ’73) pledged support to the Bernacki Family Stage Management Scholarship.
The Chad Smith Foundation made a gift establishing the Curtis and Joan Smith Scholarship, which supports undergraduate students studying instrumental performance, vocal performance, or musical theatre.
Alan Cline (BS ’67, MA ’68, PhD ’70) and Elaine Rich made a gift to the Alan Kaylor Cline, Elaine Alice Rich, and Byerly Wiser Cline Family Scholarship, which provides support for students in the Michigan Marching Band drumline.
Beth Collins pledged support and made a gift to establish the BC and PC Fund, which provides musical theatre scholarship support.
The Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation made a gift to the SMTD Alumni String Scholarship.
Carol Hurwitz (MPH ’75) and Thomas Hardy pledged support and made a gift to establish the Hardy-Hurwitz Fund for musical theatre scholarships.
Lee Rucker Keiser (BA ’80) and Matthew Keiser (BA ’84, MBA ’86) made a gift to the Lee Rucker Keiser Fund, which provides scholarship support for out-of-state viola, cello, and double bass students.
James Kershner made a gift to the James Kershner and Mark Pfleger Scholarship in Musical Theatre.
Molly Laughlin (BM ’90, BA ’90) made a gift to establish the Constance H. Laughlin Scholarship for undergraduate instrumental performance majors and made a gift to the H. Robert Reynolds Scholarship in Music.
David Lauth (BM ’77, MM ’78, JD ’82) and Lindsey Thomas (MD ’80) pledged support to the David J. Lauth and Lindsey C. Thomas Scholarship for oboe students.
Laura McTaggart (BA ’92) and Thomas Nolan (BSE ’90) made a gift to the Marching Band Scholarship.
Jerry (MS ’73, PhD ’75) and Emily Miller (MSW ’71) made a gift to the Jerry and Emily Miller Student Needs Fund, which provides non-tuition support to musical theatre students.
Christina and George Papadakis pledged support to establish the Christina and George Papadakis Scholarship for theatre performance students.
The Presser Foundation made a gift to the Presser Graduate Music Award.
William (BA ’69, JD ’72) and Joan Richards (BA ’69) made a gift to the Bill and Joan Richards Family Marching Band Scholarship.
Donald Shepherd (BBA ’58) made gifts to the Donald R. Shepherd Scholarship in Musical Theatre and Donald R. Shepherd Michigan Marching Band Fellowship Award Fund.
Marianne Swenson (BA ’82) and John D’Alessandro (BA ’82) made a gift to the Marianne and Jon Swenson Marching Band Scholarship.
Michael (BBA ’82, MBA ’92) and Marcia Torrey made a gift to the Michael Torrey Theatre Scholarship for musical theatre and theatre & drama students.
Gregory Weidler (BSE ’73) and Merle Jaffe made a gift to the Weidler Family Scholarship for International Tours by the Men’s Glee Club.
Eric Wohl (BA ’91) made a gift to the Martin and Suzanne Wohl Marching Band Scholarship.
Jeffrey (BSE ’86) and Terri Wohl (BA ’88) made a gift to the Martin and Suzanne Wohl Marching Band Scholarship.
Programmatic Support
We are grateful to the following individuals for their support of various programs throughout the school.
Betty Chisholm (BA ’56, MA ’60) made a gift to the Chisholm Jazz Masterclass Series Fund.
Kenneth (BA ’71) and Sally Coe (B.S.D.Hyg. ’73) made a gift to the Marching Band Enrichment Fund.
The Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation made gifts to the Center Stage Strings Scholarship and the Strings Enrichment Fund.
William Fulton made a gift to the Nancy Ambrose King Oboe Studio Fund.
Joseph Galema (MM ’78, DMA ’82) made a gift to the Pipe Organ Replacement Fund.
R. Eugene and Susan Goodson made a gift to the Pipe Organ Replacement Fund in honor and memory of Robert Glasgow.
Perry Kasper Granoff (BA ’63) and Marty Granoff made a gift to the Music, Theatre & Dance Fund.
Dalos Grobe (MM ’68) made a gift to the Pipe Organ Replacement Fund.
Derek (BGS ’97) and Erica Groendyk made a gift to support the Michigan Marching Band.
James Hammann (MM ’71, DMA ’87) made a gift to the Pipe Organ Replacement Fund.
Lin and Larry Kempa (BBA ’77, MBA ’79) made a gift to support the Michigan Marching Band.
Kathleen Kress (BSE ’82, MBA ’88) and Simone Pisciotta made a gift to support the Michigan Marching Band.
Mark Legnini (MPH ’74) and Kathleen Hughes made a gift to the EXCEL Fund.
David (BM ’81, MBA ’83) and Jan Libengood made a gift to the Gustave Rosseels Endowed Prize for String Quartet Fund.
Kittie Berger Morelock (BA ’65, MSW ’67) made a gift to establish the Kittie Berger Morelock Prize in Voice Fund.
Melisa (BS ’10) and Brian Potocki (BS ’08, DDS ’12) made a gift to the Katy Potocki Sanchez Memorial Fund, which supports the activities of the Women’s Glee Club.
SeAH Holdings made a gift to support the SeAH Korean Art Song Gala.
Marianne Swenson (BA ’82) and John D’Alessandro (BA ’82) made gifts to support the Michigan Marching Band.
Videmus made gifts to support the George Shirley Vocal Competition Fund.
Jeffrey (BBA ’88) and Kristin Walters (BA ’87) made a gift to support the Michigan Marching Band.
Alfred Wolin (BA ’54) made a gift to the Gershwin Operating Fund to support the Alfred M. and Jane Z. Wolin Gershwin Initiative Managing Editor.
David (BA ’86, MD ’90) and Bernadine Wu (BS ’89, MD ’92) pledged support to establish the Chamber Music Residency Fund.
Planned Gifts
The following individuals have very generously included the School of Music, Theatre & Dance in their estate plans.
Cal Gabriel established a planned gift to support the George Cavender Marching Band Scholarship.
The estate of Nancy Kauffman made a gift to the Dean’s Discretionary Fund.
The estate of William Kopp (BS ’51, MD ’54, MS ’62) made a gift to establish the William and Alice Kopp Faculty Fund in Musical Theatre.
Cal Gabriel established a planned gift to support the George Cavender Marching Band Scholarship.
The estate of Nancy Kauffman made a gift to the Dean’s Discretionary Fund.
The estate of William Kopp (BS ’51, MD ’54, MS ’62) made a gift to establish the William and Alice Kopp Faculty Fund in Musical Theatre.
George Valenta (BA ’55, MS ’60) increased his planned gift to establish the George J. Valenta Endowed Scholarship, which will provide support for in-state undergraduate students majoring in performance.
Gregory Whitmore (BM ’01) and Tiffani Natalini-Whitmore (BS ’99, MS ’01) set a bequest intention to establish the Dr. Gregory Xavier Whitmore and Dr. Tiffani Natalini-Whitmore Marching Band Scholarship.
George Valenta (BA ’55, MS ’60) increased his planned gift to establish the George J. Valenta Endowed Scholarship, which will provide support for in-state undergraduate students majoring in performance.
Gregory Whitmore (BM ’01) and Tiffani Natalini-Whitmore (BS ’99, MS ’01) set a bequest intention to establish the Dr. Gregory Xavier Whitmore and Dr. Tiffani Natalini-Whitmore Marching Band Scholarship.
Please consider supporting the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Your support will have a significant impact on our students’ ability to forge ahead on their educational paths and share their many gifts with the world. To contribute, call 734-647-2035 or visit smtd.umich.edu/giving. Thank you!