STARS - Southern Miss Symphony November 2025 Program
106th SEASON 2025-26
Greetings and welcome to the second concert program of our ambitious American Perspectives season. A quote attributed to Betsy Ross describing our country’s flag was used as inspiration for our programming as our country approaches its 250th anniversary. This evening, we hear music inspired by the Stars (and planets) - an enthralling work from an incredibly influential voice of the great American jazz tradition alongside one of Mozart’s most celebrated treasures.
“Stars on a field of blue; one for each colony; bars of red, for the blood of sacrifice; on a ground of white for love and peace.” - Betsy Ross
PROGRAM
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES SCHOOL OF MUSIC
present
Stars
The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
Gregory Wolynec, music director
Thursday, November 6, 2025 - 7:30 p.m. The Thomas V. Fraschillo Stage at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium
This program is presented in part by a generous grant from Partners for the Arts.
CONDUCTOR’S NOTES
I was introduced to Aaron Diehl by my good friend and talented composer, Cristina Spinei, shortly after the lockdown phase of the pandemic in 2020. It had been several months since I had stood in front of an orchestra, and at that point, it really wasn’t clear when the opportunity would be afforded to me again. Like so many of us, I felt like I was experiencing a complete reset. In the years prior, I had started to feel that my professional work in Tennessee had become routine. Ideas for new projects were easy to identify but difficult to pursue as audience expectations followed previous successes. Projects I had pioneered over the previous 10 years had become annual offerings, and there wasn’t time or resource to explore new ones.
Well, the time part took care of itself around March of 2020. In many ways, the resource part took a hiatus through the incredible efforts of granting organizations, such as the National Endowment of the Arts, local granting agencies and forward-looking community partners like Google. The world had also changed dramatically, and artists were looking for ways to recognize the vast range of the human experience. Of course, this was all happening in very small groups, placed very far apart, and making our traditional methods of delivery essentially impossible. But the work that was invested then produced radiant new voices and the rediscovery of important ones our history was in danger of missing.
Aaron and I discussed a couple of projects that I was mulling over, and he also introduced me to the work you are about to hear – Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite. The blur of the next five years saw several ambitious projects through but even more left unfulfilled. Just over a year ago, I saw my new students here at Southern Miss connect with composer Conni Ellisor and mountain dulcimer player Stephen Seifert on Conni’s beautiful Blackberry Winter. This was a work that challenged us to play in Appalachian folk styles that were quite foreign to most of the ensemble. I remembered Aaron’s enthusiasm for Mary Lou Williams, but also his concern about making sure there would be enough time to really work with the musicians to grasp the subtleties of jazz, boogie woogie, and the other styles this piece would contain.
By the spring, I was delighted to connect with Aaron’s management team and learn that he would be willing to bring this work to Hattiesburg. This would be his first time presenting the work with a collegiate ensemble, but they were quick to recognize the potential of our merry band. All the rehearsing with Aaron
and his trio will take place during the week of our concert. As of this writing, we have had a first reading with students stepping in for the trio to give us an idea of what we will be up against. My colleagues Larry Panella and Kimberley Davis will be joining us in the coming weeks to give their perspectives on these new sounds for us. I just know you are going to love it!
Mary Lou Williams occupies an incredibly important role in the history of jazz education and training. In classical music around the same time, we could visit France to find Nadia Boulanger shaping countless young minds of composers and helping them find their own unique voices. The diverse list of Aaron Copland, Elliot Carter, Philip Glass, Astor Piazzolla and nearly 300 more define a long career of unparalleled significance. In the jazz world, Mary Lou Williams occupies a similar role. Her students included Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonius Monk. As I look at my small but growing collection of great jazz on vinyl, I realize how much American music owes to Mary Lou Williams. It was not exclusively as a teacher that she left her mark. Williams was one of the foremost pianists of her day, and she was a tremendous composer. This evening’s work was created initially for trio and then recast for a small orchestra in 1945. Each movement is a sort of tribute to musical personalities that fell under the various astrological signs. Zodiac was also profoundly influenced by Duke Ellington’s landmark Black, Brown & Beige.
The second half of our program will explore an iconic work from 1788. That summer, for reasons that have never been fully explained, Mozart wrote his final three symphonies. There was no concert planned or a commission to honor. It was as if Mozart was creating a giant instrumental work for the future. These symphonies contain all the influences the mature composer had absorbed in his life – succinct structure, marvelous melodies and confounding counterpoint.
The title of “Jupiter” was assigned by a concert promotor years after Mozart’s passing in honor of the work’s thunderous opening notes. These powerful unison Cs conjured the image of the Roman god of thunder and lightning who the Greek’s knew as Zeus. Yet these thunderbolts are followed by music of a much more tender nature. Mozart develops these contradictory ideas into the majestic opening of the first movement. In perfect classical form, two important melodies follow – one in which the accompaniment
echoes the melody in unusual fashion and the other based almost exactly on an aria he wrote earlier in the same summer.
Tempo can be difficult to establish in Mozart’s slow movements for both conductor and orchestra. In the case of the sublime second movement of this symphony, I think if it feels comfortable in six beats to the measure, it is too slow, but if it is comfortable in two beats, it is too fast. Here a classical sonata form merges with an ancient dance known as the sarabande. It is this dance element, coupled with the unusual accents found in the second melody, that dictates the tempo that I feel Mozart intended. In the 1979 film Manhattan, Woody Allen’s character said, “Why is life worth living? It’s a very good question. Um, well, there are certain things I guess that make it worthwhile. Groucho Marx, to name one thing and Willie Mays ... and the second movement of the ‘Jupiter’ Symphony.”
Who could disagree?
Instead of the stately minuet and trio that we expect, Mozart treats us to a movement more inspired by the Austrian folk song called the ländler. Interesting chromatic passages remind us of the movement that came before. More importantly, he uses a theme part way through the trio that anticipates the main melody of the mighty closing movement.
This brings us to what many musicians and scholars believe was Mozart’s single greatest symphonic creation. The melody that we are greeted with, beginning with four long notes, is one that he had used countless times before, including in his very first symphony from the age of 8! Melodies seem to chase each other between the different voices. Lines oppose each other, only to come together. It is, in a word, brilliant. Mozart had become fascinated with the music of J.S. Bach, the master of layering musical lines in a complex fashion called counterpoint. This was music of a previous time period in Mozart’s hands; it was fresh and new with several tuneful melodies effortlessly weaved together. Near the end of the work, the horn intones the opening melody, kicking off the musical coda (literally the tail) of the work. It is here that Mozart reveals the astonishing lessons of his all too short life and career. No fewer than five musical lines are placed on top of each other in dazzling counterpoint that knows few equals. Whether you choose to try to follow these various lines or sit back and simply let them wash over you, know that you are in for a treat. Tackling music like this with incredibly gifted musicians, most of whom have never played this work before, is a dream come true for me. I hope you enjoy their efforts.
ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL
Violin 1
Kevin Andre Zerrate Aria*
Carlos Suarez*
Allyson Gomes
Keyu Zheng
Sofia Araujo
Dexter Rodkey
Katarzyna Gwiazda
Ameila Brencick
João Vitor Gonzaga
Lucas Gonzalez
Oliver Galagher
Violin 2
Ethne Killgore*
Juan Lincango
Paul Armijos Yambay
Paulo Victor Alves
Grace Pineda
Elizabeth Brown
Veronica Morales
Paloma Vieira Guillory
Katelynn Ferguson
Aubri Sparkman
Viola
Christian Avila*
Adelle Paltin Panella
Rene Espinal Reyna
Renata Andrade
Natalia Escobedo
Nicole Herrera
Violoncello
Brian Lorett*
Mauricio Unzueta Salas
Evelin Lopez
Cristian Sanchez
Kassandra Henriquez
Vivian Herring
Gabriel Barros
Bass
Marcus Silva*
Matheus Ferreira de Souza
Raegan Fisher
Jose Cuellar
Daniel LaMere
JaLaan Dubose
Manuel Jara
Flute
David Reyes*
Hallie Ward*
Oboe
Geordie Nabors*
Joshua Strobel*
Clarinet
Brad Pilcher*
Bassoon
Zachary Howell*
Paulo Siqueira*
Nancy Diaz
Horn
Abby Loftin*
Andrew Cooke
Chance Rootes
Trumpet
Mariah Atwood*
Clayton Jacocks*
Anthony Leggio
Trombone
Jonathan Henneveld
Timpani
Nathan Wright*
* denotes principal players
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SOUTHERN MISS SCHOOL OF Music
STRINGS
Dr. Borislava Iltcheva, violin
Dr. Hsiaopei Lee, viola
Dr. Alexander Russakovsky, cello
Dr. Marcos Machado, bass
Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo, guitar
WOODWINDS
Dr. Danilo Mezzadri, flute
Dr. Pablo Hernandez, oboe
Dr. Jackie McIlwain, clarinet
Dr. Kim Woolly, bassoon
Dr. Dannel Espinoza, saxophone
BRASS
Dr. Rob Detjen, horn
Dr. Tim Tesh, trumpet
Dr. Ben McIlwain, trombone
Dr. Richard Perry, tuba
PERCUSSION
Dr. John Wooton, percussion
PIANO
Dr. Michael Bunchman, piano
Dr. Ellen Elder, piano
Dr. Hongzuo Guo, staff pianist
Dr. Elizabeth Moak, piano
Dr. Zhaolei Xie, staff pianist
ORCHESTRAL ACTIVITIES
Dr. Gregory Wolynec
CHORAL ACTIVITIES
Dr. Gregory Fuller
Dr. Jonathan Kilgore
VOICE
Dr. Kimberley Davis
Dr. Taylor Hightower
Dr. Meredith Johnson
Dr. Jonathan Yarrington
MUSIC EDUCATION
Dr. Ashley Allen
Dr. Melody Causby
Dr. Ian Cicco
Dr. Kelli Clark
UNIVERSITY BANDS
Dr. Catherine Rand
Dr. Travis Higa
Dr. Cody Edgerton
JAZZ STUDIES
Larry Panella
MUSIC HISTORY
Dr. Vanessa Tonelli
Dr. Edward Hafer
Dr. Joseph Jones
MUSIC THEORY
Dr. Danny Beard
Dr. Joseph Brumbeloe
Dr. Douglas Rust
DIRECTOR
Dr. Colin McKenzie
ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Dr. Joseph Jones
Dr. Timothy Tesh
ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR
Laurie Rinko
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION SPECALIST
Jennifer Knue
ADMINISTRATIVE SPECALISTS
Sinetta Bolton
Dr. Kevin Ledgewood
ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT
COORDINATOR
Kristin Sheppard
GRADUATE COORDINATOR
Dr. Melody Causby
PR/MARKETING AND EVENT COORDINATOR
Dr. Mike Lopinto
PIANO TECHNICIAN
Carlos Boza
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Pianist Aaron Diehl has quietly re-defined the lines between jazz and classical, and built a global career around his nuanced, understated approach to music-making. Praised for his “melodic precision, harmonic erudition, and elegant restraint” (The New York Times), and his “traditional jazz sound with a sophisticated contemporary spin” (The Guardian), Diehl has performed with musical giants such as Wynton Marsalis, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Tyshawn Sorey, and Philip Glass, and has been a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra, working with conductors like Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Marin Alsop, and Alan Gilbert. In 2023, Diehl was named as the Artistic Director of 92NY’s Jazz in July Festival, succeeding the legendary Bill Charlap.
A leader in contemporary jazz, the Philadelphia Inquirer exclaimed that “there’s an entire world of jazz in Aaron Diehl’s playing…he makes the case that jazz is not one style or genre but many, gliding gorgeously among decades of artistic influences.” With an expansive, orchestral, lyrical approach to the piano that channels predecessors like Ahmad Jamal, Erroll Garner, Art Tatum and Jelly Roll Morton, Diehl has headlined the Monterey, Detroit, and Newport Jazz Festivals, and had residencies at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Village Vanguard, SF Jazz, and many more. He counts among his mentors towering figures such as John Lewis, Kenny Barron, Fred Hersch, Marcus Roberts, and Eric Reed.
Diehl’s creative vision draws equally from the Classical music tradition, with DownBeat Magazine stating “Diehl gracefully melds two worlds, merging the improvisational spirit of jazz with the compositional intricacies of Western classical music.” Diehl has performed with top orchestras across the US, at leading venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Hollywood Bowl, the Elbphilharmonie, and Tanglewood. He has collaborated with classical stars ranging from Inon Barnatan to J’Nai Bridges to The Knights, and his compositions have been commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival, Glenmorangie Scotch, and others.
In the 2023-24 season, Diehl and his trio, featuring bassist David Wong and drummer Aaron Kimmel, open the New Jersey Symphony’s season with a program that includes Still’s Out of the Silence and Ellington’s New World A-Comin’. The trio also makes its St. Louis Symphony Orchestra debut with a performance of Mary Lou Williams’s Zodiac Suite. As the 2024 Resonate Festival artist-in-residence, Diehl will explore the theme of musical intersections, with works by John Lewis, Mary Lou Williams’ Zodiac Suite and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D minor, conducted by Eric Jacobsen. In the spring, Diehl joins the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the world premiere of Timo Andres’s new piano concerto, conducted by John Adams.
During the 2022-23 season, Diehl was featured alongside Bill Charlap and Kenny Barron as part of 92NY’s “Three Generations at the Piano” program during Charlap’s penultimate season as the Jazz in July music director. Diehl would later go on to perform alongside fellow pianists Isaiah J. Thompson and Caelan Cardello as part of Charlap’s final season. As Kaufman Music Center’s 2022 Artist-in-Residence, Diehl presented a recital program that included Sir Roland Hanna’s lesser known 24 Preludes. He would
later go on to present the 24 Preludes in a trio performance at Tanglewood. Diehl also performed Zodiac Suite with the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras under the batons of Cristian Măcelaru and Jader Bignamini, respectively.
In September 2023, Diehl released his recording of Mary Lou Williams’s Zodiac Suite with The Knights, a Brooklyn-based orchestral collective led by conductor Eric Jacobsen. As the first-ever studio recording of Mary Lou Willams’s Zodiac Suite, it has been touted as “a joyous, enchanting creation… a triumph” (The Guardian) with Diehl lauded as “a contemporary champion” (The New York Times) and “a perfect choice to preside over this landmark recording” (The Wall Street Journal). The album features Diehl’s trio and guest artists saxophonist Nicole Glover, clarinetist Evan Christopher, trumpeter Brandon Lee, and soprano Mikaela Bennett. The critically-acclaimed album is Diehl’s fourth recording on Mack Avenue Records, following 2020’s The Vagabond, 2015’s Space Time Continuum, and his 2013 label debut, The Bespoke Man’s Narrative.
Diehl was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he grew up listening to his grandfather, pianist and trombonist Arthur Baskerville. His family nurtured Diehl’s undeniable musical talents from a young age and in 2002, a 16-year-old Diehl competed in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington competition, where he placed as a finalist. It was there that he attracted the attention of Wynton Marsalis, who invited Diehl to join his septet for a European tour. After studying at Julliard under the direction of Kenny Barron, Eric Reed and Oxana Yablonskaya, Diehl was awarded the 2011 American Pianists Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship. Diehl, who holds commercial single and multi-engine pilot certifications, inherited a lifelong love of flying from his father who was himself an avid pilot. Diehl has been a Steinway Artist since 2016.
Felix Moseholm from Copenhagen, Denmark, is one of the exciting voices on the double bass today. While he is best known for his work with Brad Mehldau, Samara Joy and Sean Mason, he enjoys working with a wide range of artists covering many different musical styles. Felix musical background is rooted in an early encounter with the classical cello repertoire. After playing the cello for 10 formative years he was encouraged to make the switch to double bass by his granduncle Erik Moseholm (bass player w. Don Byas, Eric Dolphy etc.)
At age 18, after a few years of playing professionally in Denmark, Felix decided to move to New York fueled by curiosity and a desire to learn about American culture and music in its birthplace. In New York, Felix received mentorship by Gerald Cannon and George Coleman among others, while earning his bachelor’s and master’s degree from Juilliard (2018-2023). He quickly integrated into the local scene as he began performing regularly in and around the city while keeping up with his schoolwork at Juilliard.
Today, Felix appears on multiple recordings, the latest being Samara Joy’s “Portrait” released in the fall of 2024. He can also be seen playing on Isaiah J. Thompson’s NPR Tiny Desk concert on YouTube. In NYC, where Felix is still primarily based, he maintains a busy performance schedule both locally and on tour. Felix Moseholm is a recipient of The Horace Parlan Talent Award, Irene Diamond Scholarship, Augustinusfonden along with other awards and honors.
Aaron Kimmel, originally from Pennsylvania, has resided in New York City for nearly two decades where he works as a freelance drummer. He holds a bachelor of music degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Kenny Washington and Billy Drummond. He frequently appears at Smalls and Dizzy’s Club, and many venues around the world. You can see him performing as a sideman with Aaron Diehl, the Benny Green trio, and Ben Wolfe, among others. He has also played with such jazz luminaries as Harry Allen, Ken Peplowski, Eric Alexander, Joe Magnarelli, Grant Stewart, Terell Stafford, Ryan Kisor, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Ann Hampton Callaway, Mary Stallings, and Jon Faddis.
Larry Panella is a jazz saxophonist and educator serving at The University of Southern Mississippi as the director of Jazz Studies. He has performed with numerous artists and entertainers, including the Phil Collins Big Band, The Woody Herman Orchestra, and Natalie Cole. His recordings include his latest release titled, Larry Panella: The Gestures Project, and earlier release Larry Panella; Under the Influence, as well as releases with the Phil Collins Big Band, The Michael Waldrop Big Band, The Collection Jazz Orchestra, the Ashley Alexander Big Band, John Mahoney Big Band and Chris Cortez. He is the author of Improvisation: A Theme and Variations Based Approach – Book 1, the first in a threebook series. (available on Amazon) Panella is an artist endorser for Cannonball Music Instruments. Prior to coming to Southern Miss, he served on the faculty of Northern Illinois University and Wheaton College and was active as a freelance musician in the Chicago area.
Soprano Kimberley Davis has performed nationally, throughout Europe, in South America and Mexico, Bermuda and Hawaii. In addition to a repertoire of major orchestral and chamber works, Davis has several touring programs of specialized music highlighting French Mélodie and those that focus on music by Black Americans—one of which is A Spiritual Journey and Contemporary Song. Davis has several outreach programs for K-12 audiences; a lecture recital titled, The Art Songs and Arrangements of Notable 20th Century African American Female Composers—often performed with composer Jacqueline B. Hairston, one of the featured composers of the program. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in a special concert program featuring the arrangements of composer Hairston in February of 2012. In progress are two annotated anthologies of Hairston’s arrangements and art songs. A member of several professional organizations, Davis has been part of The University of Southern Mississippi and School of Music voice faculty since 1992; she is the chair and coordinator of the voice area and has previously served as coordinator of graduate studies in the School of Music. Davis currently serves as the Mississippi district governor (district membership director) of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Southern Region. She has several upcoming performances planned for the 2025-26 season, inclusive of performing again with The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and with Symphonic Winds in the Pops in the Park concert this past October, 2025.
Gregory Wolynec is in his second year as director of Orchestral Activities at The University of Southern Mississippi. He directs the Symphony Orchestra, oversees the graduate program in orchestral conducting, and conducts performances of the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company. He is also the founder and music director emeritus of Middle Tennessee’s acclaimed Gateway Chamber Orchestra (GCO), which he directed for 17 years. Wolynec previously served as director of instrumental ensembles at Austin Peay State University (APSU) in Clarksville, Tenn., from 2003-24. Wolynec has sought to revolutionize the potential of the 21st century orchestra. His unique programming philosophy received national attention with GCO producer Blanton Alspaugh receiving two GRAMMY nominations and a win as Classical Producer of the Year. Ambitious multimedia family concerts have been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the League of American Orchestras. He spearheaded pandemic projects, including the Magical Music & Timeless Tales video series, the YouTube broadcast of the Beethoven @250: Humanity in 2020 concert, and America’s Haydn Festival in May of 2021, featuring performances by GCO, as well as the St. Lawrence String Quartet, pianist Henry Kramer and hosted by Bill McGlaughlin. In 2021, Wolynec also worked with composer Cristina Spinei to successfully launch the first NFT of a musical work commissioned by an American orchestra. This was profiled on NPR’s Marketplace Money. He also oversaw a multi-year project in collaboration with Nashville Ballet to create a new Nutcracker employing the music of Tchaikovsky, Duke Ellington and Vinico Meza. In 2025, Wolynec oversaw the groundbreaking release of recordings of Osvaldo Golijov’s massive La Pasión según San Marcos in audio, video and virtual reality formats.
Wolynec holds a BM in music education and clarinet performance from SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, as well as the MM and DMA in instrumental conducting from Michigan State University. He was a recipient of a Fulbright Grant to Prague, Czech Republic, where he studied conducting at the Prague Conservatory. There he also worked with the Karlovy Vary Symphony.
Symphony Patrons,
For decades, your staggeringly talented orchestra has been “Bringing the World to Mississippi” with student musicians from more than a dozen countries and guest performers from all over the planet. In my second year as director, I think it’s time we start “Bringing Mississippi to the World.”
As we announced at our season launch reception, we need your help to do this! I’m thrilled to share that Becky and Doug Montague are leading the charge, along with several other generous donors, to jump-start our efforts. Together, they have donated $65,000 and challenge our remaining symphony supporters to match that gift. If we can do this together, we’ll have met almost 90% of our annual $150,000 goal.
With these funds, we’ll be able to
(1) professionally livestream our wor ld-class performances so that they’ll be available anywhere the Internet can be accessed,
(2) record these incredible musicians’ concerts for commercial release, and
(3) take this show on the road with touring ensembles playing in prestigious concert halls throughout the country and eventually the world.
I can think of no better cultural ambassadors for our great state than our own gem here in Hattiesburg, and we invite you to join us on this adventure with a one-time or multi-year gift to the USM Foundation’s “Bringing Mississippi to the World” fund. Details for doing so can be found on the back of this insert.
With gratitude,
Gregory Wolynec, DMA Director of Orchestral Activities
Don’t mss a single event!
Holiday Choral Spectacular
December 2 and 4, 2025 – 7:30 p.m. Main St. Baptist Church Star-Spangled
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. Bennett Auditorium Bars of Red
Thursday, March 26, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. The Thomas V. Fraschillo Stage at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium Closing Night Ground of White
Thursday, May 7, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. Main St. Baptist Church
ENDOWMENTS
ENDOWMENTS
When it comes to making a long-term impact on Southern Miss, there are many giving options to choose from besides simply writing a check. To find a charitable gift that best meets your family's goals and supports Southern Miss for years to come, please contact us and join this family that will sustain the Symphony for generations.
BAND/DIXIE DARLING
Dewey W. Camp Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0846
Billie and Homer Sullivan Jr. Pride Scholarship – Fund 1237
Martha and Noobar Odjakjian Memorial Scholarship Endowment –Fund 1250
Margaret and Warren Dunn Pride Scholarship – Fund 1426
Drs. Mark and Martha Stevens and Anna Stevens Swann Pride Endowment – Fund 1463
Barnes-Manning Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1716
Janet Sims Band Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1727
Band Scholarship Endowment –Fund 2482
Kappa Kappa Psi Gamma Chi Chapter Alumni Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2515
Charles and Diane Thomas Endowment in the School of Music –Fund 0511
Anita Joe “Butch” McDonald Endowed Dixie Darling Scholarship – Fund 0667
Carl and Margaret Alesio Dixie Darling Scholarship Endowment –Fund 1421
Kristen Margaret Warren Memorial Scholarship – Fund 1591
Linda Smith Abner Dixie Darling Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2108
Alma Murphy Dixie Darlings Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2155
Sherman and Mildred Hong Percussion Scholarship Endowment –Fund 2419
Pep Band Scholarship Endowment –Fund 2213
CHOIR
Charles and Diane Thomas Choral Tour Endowment – Fund 1465
Steffan Myers Spirit of Southern FFE – Fund 2366
Drs. Mark and Martha Stevens and Anna Stevens Swann Choir Endowment – Fund 1463
CHOIR/VOCAL
Tennessee Ernie Ford Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1218
GUITAR
Elmo and Mary Glenn Harrison Guitar Scholarship Endowment –Fund 0931
Pat and Brett McKenzie Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2564
JAZZ
M. Ashley DuBoise Scholarship Endowment in Jazz Studies – Fund 0570
Jerald S. and Christine B. Hughes Jazz Studies Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1273
MUSIC
Frank Earl Marsh Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0690
Raymond and Karen Mannoni Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0737
Kathryn Swetman Page Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0821
Mabel Ve. Shannon Silver Memorial Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0864
Joe Barry Mullins Scholarship – Fund 0905
Mary Lillian Peters Whitten Music Endowment – Fund 0968
Thad and Gerry Waites Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0980
Dr. Nancy O’Neal Tatum Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0982
Edna and Dave Perkins Music Faculty Enhancement Endowment –Fund 1261
Lorena Bessey Mangin Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1270
Zackery Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1750
James O. and Mary Ann Schnur Lower Brass Scholarship – Fund 1278
J. Larry and Linda B. Smith Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2063
Jim and Jamie Self Tuba Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2488
Dr. Patricia Ann Sharpe Malone Memorial Scholarship Endowment –Fund 2526
Pat and Brett McKenzie Music
Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2564
MUSIC EDUCATION
Dr. Jack P. Donovan Memorial Scholarship – Fund 1153
Charles and Carolyn Elliott Endowed Scholarship in Music Education – Fund 1162
Dorothy and Laurance Cunningham Endowment in Music Education –Fund 1167
Mississippi Orchestra Teachers Association/Sara Dean Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1608
Agnes and Joseph “Bud” Hillman Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2127
ORCHESTRA
Edna and Dave Perkins Endowed Scholarship in Strings – Fund 0515
Harry Wells McCraw Violin Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0629
Harold Luce Orchestra Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0659
June Ross Vardaman Violin Chair Orchestra Endowment – Fund 0669
John P. and Ellene C. Moseley Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0966
Hilda and George McGee Endowed Music Scholarship – Fund 0979
Tom and Claire Brantley Trombone Scholarship – Fund 1364
William T. Gower Orchestra Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1499
Thomas D. and Lorraine Smith Ott Wind Scholarship – Fund 1539
Jaime Jiménez Endowed Cellist Scholarship – Fund 1638
Beau Rivage Orchestral Chair Scholarship – Fund 1688
Beau Rivage Endowment for the Mississippi Gulf Coast – Fund 1689
Mary Jordan Symphony Orchestra Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1702
Gertrude C. Ford Orchestral Scholars Endowment – Fund 1735
Chisholm-Lindsey Orchestral Chair Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1747
Garland and Sally Sullivan Symphony Orchestra Brass Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1764
Herbert Allen Hart Symphony Percussion Scholarship Endowment –Fund 1765
Allen Hale Southern Mississippi Symphony String Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1766
Jay Dean USM Symphony
Woodwind Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1767
Hattiesburg Civic Association Orchestra Scholarship Endowment –Fund 1778
Partners for the Arts Orchestra
Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1779
Elizabeth M. Irby Orchestral Chair Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1780
John N. Palmer Foundation Orchestral Scholarship Endowment –Fund 1794
Richard Fabian and Katherine Smith McCarthy Violin Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1799
Orpheus Orchestral Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1869
The University of Southern Mississippi Opera Endowment –Fund 1939
Voice of the Century Centennial Orchestra Scholarship Endowment –Fund 1945
Rebecca Smart Montague Symphony Scholarship Endowment – Fund 1975
Sonya Rebecca Jordan Fox Symphony Orchestra and Opera Endowment –Fund 2099
Jay Dean International Music Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2281
Joe B. Price Horn Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2291
Dr. Toxey Micheal and Mrs. Virginia Wick Morris Orchestra Symphony Endowment – Fund 2602
PIANO
Dr. Trelles Glenn Case Piano Performance Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2601
Fannie Godbold Ginn Piano Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0584
Melba Ough Ragsdale Memorial Piano Scholarship Endowment –Fund 2073
George Imbragulio Piano Memorial Scholarship Endowment – Fund 2240
PIANO/VOICE
Patricia Graham Gable Endowment in Music – Fund 0517
VOICE
Angela Stevens Wallace Voice Scholarship Endowment – Fund 0697
The University of Southern Mississippi Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the University community by overseeing fundraising efforts to raise private support for scholarships and other academic needs at Southern Miss. The Foundation manages donor dollars to provide the most advanced educational opportunities available to students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Southern Miss.
LEGACY LIFETIME MEMBERS
Gold Legacy Society - $25,000
Gail and Larry Albert
Becky and Doug Montague
Dr. Steven Moser
Ms. Sandra and Dr. R. Greer Whitacre
Silver Legacy Society - $12,500
Dr. Shannon Campbell
Tammy and Arthur Martin
Pam and Doug Rouse
Bronze Legacy Society - $5,000
Alexander Brady Foundation
Linda Boutwell-Griffith and John Griffith
Jennifer Brannock and Dr. David R. Davies
Dr. Amy Chasteen
Iris Easterling
Erin and Dennis Granberry
Lt. Col. Jason Hillman in honor of Carole Marshall
Amy and Don Hinton
Carole Marshall in memory of John Ivany Marshall
Stace and Andy Mercier
Drs. Stacey and Michael Miles
Dr. and Mrs. Joe Paul
Dee and Toddy Tatum in memory of Dr. and Mrs. A.T. Tatum
Becky and Doug Vinzant
ANNUAL MEMBERS
PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE - $5,000+ Cadence Bank
College of Arts and Sciences
GRAND BENEFACTOR - $2,500
Beltone Hearing Care Centers
Catherine and Donald Cotten
Beverly Dale in honor of Colin McKenzie
Iris Easterling
Chad and Catherine Edmonson
Dr. Stella Elakovich in memory of Drs. Dana Ragsdale and Karen O. Austin
Gulf South Productions
Hancock Whitney
Lincoln Road Package Store
The Linda Becker Smith Trust
Dr. and Mrs. Jiménez
Kate Smith and Hank Mazaleski
Dr. and Mrs. J. Larry Smith
in memory of Mrs. Jane Becker Heidelberg
Southern Oaks Venue & Catering
Dr. and Mrs. Chris Winstead
BENEFACTOR - $1,000
Anonymous
Myrle-Marie Bongiovanni
Diane and Peter Ciurczak in memory of Lillian, Helen and Regina Gwen and Perry Combs
Mo and Dick Conville
Cooperative Energy
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Heath in honor of Sarah K. Heath
Drs. Sabine Heinhorst and Gordon Cannon
Jane and Charles Lewis
Carole Marshall
Cody and Joan McKeller
Dr. Keith and Carolyn McLarnan
Dr. Steven and Anita Murphey
Lance and Ruthie Nail
Dr. and Mrs. Tom Puckett
Dr. Edward Sayre
Signature Magazine
Southern Miss Alumni Association
William L. Thames in memory of Lou Rackoff
Dr. Virginia Angelico Tatum DDS
Charitable Fund
Mrs. Sandra and Dr. R. Greer Whitacre
PATRON - $500
Albert Architects
Dixie and Dennis Baum
Dr. Shannon Campbell
Coca-Cola
Dr. Chris and Missy Crenshaw
Dr. J.P. Culpepper and Lisa Bushardt
Drs. Jeremy Deans and Alyson Brink
Lee M. Davenport
Allyson Easterwood
Forrest General Hospital
Lt. Col. Jason Hillman
Amy and Don Hinton
Chem and Wayne A. Hughes
Althea and Raoul Jerome in memory of Dr. Patricia Malone
Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Leader
Robert Lochhead
John M. and Carolyn Lopinto Sr.
Mason and Magnolia Real Estate
Tina and Douglas Masterson
Dr. Colin and Mandie McKenzie
Mrs. Virginia M. Morris
Drs. Jeanne and William Morrison
Signs First
Michelle and Mike Smith
Walnut Gifts and Stationery
Russ Willis
DONOR - $250
Paula and Allen Anderson
Drs. Katie Anthony and Daniel Smith
Dr. Angela Ball
Linda and Larry Basden
Lt. Col. Raylawni Branch
Card My Yard
Peg and Bob Ciraldo
Rachel and Nicholas Ciraldo
Dr. David Cochran
Joelle Crook in memory of George T. Crook
Kimberley Davis
Beejee and Andy Dickson
DeAnna Douglas
Katherine and Chad Driskell
Andrea and Hunter Ford
Kim Gallaspy
Melinda and Bob Gholson
LBJ Properties LLC
Dr. Mike Lopinto in honor of Carolyn and John Lopinto
Maureen K. Martin in honor of Dr. and Mrs.
Aubrey K. Lucas
Missy McGee
Drs. Bitsy Browne and Marvin Miller
Drs. Suzanna and Andrew Nida
LTC and Mrs. E. Walker Nordan
Brad and Jacquelyne Pittman
Betty and Bob Press
Dr. and Mrs. Douglas M. Rust
Mary and Eric Sumrall
Addison Tatum
Debra and Richard Topp
Mr. and Mrs. Ric Voss
Diane and Jerry Waltman
Sharmon and John Wichman
CONTRIBUTOR - $150
Area Development Partnership
Drs. Diana and Joshua Bernstein
Mary Glenn and Todd Bradley
Jennifer and Sam Bruton
Jennifer Courts
LuAnn Knight Crenshaw
Dr. and Mrs. Randall Currie
Bethanie and Jerry DeFatta
Patricia Faler
Barbara Jane Foote
Racheal Fowler
Mr. and Mrs. Ken Garbee
Lauren and James Gerhart
Julie Hammond
Gene Hortman
Kate Howard
Wanda J. Howard in memory of Mrs. Beth Curlee
Elizabeth Hughes
Nicolle
Jordan and Tom O’Brien
Ivonne Kawas
Vicki R. Leggett
Kelly Ferris Lester
Marcos Machado
Jackie and Milo
Jackie and Ben McIlwain
Louise and John Meyer
Danilo Mezzadri
Dr. Mark Miller
John and Mary Mullins in honor of Jim Meade
Astrid Mussiett
In memory of Gladys S. Mussiett
Ellen Price-Elder
Julie P. Ratliff
Sherrie Mitchell Richmond
Mark Rigsby and Melanie Eubanks
Dr. Jae-Hwa Shin and Dr. Richard Lewis
Carol and Ken Simpson
David Sliman
Nancy Steen
Lorraine A. Stuart
Dr. Timothy J. Tesh
Alison and Rocky Thornton
Jennifer Torres
Sharon and Carey Varnado
Brittney Westbrook
FRIEND - $50
Caroline Abney
Dr. Jenna and Mr. Daniel Barton
Russell Beardon
Elizabeth and Chris Bedenbaugh
Lauren Bridges
Joe Brumbeloe
Margaret Buttross-Brinegar in memory of Roger D. Brinegar
Claudie and Troy Cartee
Stephanie and Matthew Casey in memory of Anna Marie Pousson
Marcia and Mitch Cochran
Darcie Conrad
Josh Cromwell
Brooke Cruthirds
Diane Dobson
Carol and Gardner Fletcher
Olivia Clare Friedman
Jennifer and John Garriga
Heather and Ken Graves in memory of Jeremy Lespi
Brenda Hesselgrave
Emily and Dale Holmes
Dr. Luis A. Iglesias
Jane W. Jones
Cynthia and Charles Junek
Linda and Mike Kuykendall
Karen LeBeau
Hsiaopei Lee
Linde and Jeff Lynn
Danny McKenzie
Medley Law Group
Leigh Beth and Ted Munter
Christa Nelson
Mr. and Mrs. Christer Olsson
Mallory Powell
Lt. Col. Sheena Puleali’i and Dr. Katlyn Woods
Jackie and Eric Ray
Julie Reid
Dr. Alexander Russakovsky
Elizabeth and Scott Schwartz
Erin Sessions
Joseph Steadman
Katie and David Sullivan
Sally and Garland Sullivan in memory of Garland H. Williams
