Dr. Karl and Wilma Carson established the Wilfred Schwartz Conductor’s Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado in...
Friends of the Symphony
Fundraising and Endowed Chairs
The Friends of the Symphony supports your Fort Collins Symphony through fundraising efforts, volunteering, and the Friends Endowment. Since its first fundraising event in 1964, the Friends (formerly the Guild) has generated over $1 million of financial support to FCS. We are the largest single donor to the symphony!
2018-2019 Friends membership raised more than $12,000 to sponsor the FCS Masterworks # 4 concert. This was in addition to $6,250 given to support the February FCSO Musical Zoo Grand Finale performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Further donations included $250 in support of Composer Talks and $250 for FCS rehearsal refreshments.
The Friends of the Symphony Endowed Chair Program totals over $596,000 and resides in a balanced pool at the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. Interest from this fund supports orchestra musician salaries. In 1999, Kay Edwards set a goal of endowing 36 musician chairs. After 22 years of hard work, Kay not only met her goal in 2021, she exceeded it by one with a total of 37 endowed musician chairs. The Fort Collins Symphony Association is deeply grateful for Kay’s Vision and commitment to supporting the orchestra.
Anyone interested in contributing to the Friends of the Symphony Endowment or in establishing another named chair, please contact Kay Edwards, Friends of the Symphony Endowment Chair, at 970-484-9465 or kfedwardo@aol.com.
Friends of the Symphony
Endowed Chairs
The Riedman/Women’s Guild Concertmaster Endowed Chair
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary (1949-1999) of the Fort Collins Symphony under the direction of Maestro Will Schwartz, the Guild...
The Julian and Ida Siegel Assistant Concertmaster Endowed Chair
In 2011, Dr. Ed Siegel endowed the chair to honor his parents, Julian and Ida Siegel. Julian Siegel came to...
Dorothy Gruber Horowitz Principal First Violin Endowed Chair
Mark and Nance Horowitz endowed this chair to honor Mark’s mother. Dorothy played professionally as First Violin with the South...
Wilson and Emily Wilmarth and Family Principal Second Violin Endowed Chair
In 2013, the Wilson and Emily Wilmarth Fund endowed this chair in their honor, with the consent of Ellen Brown and Susan Greer, their...
Patricia A. Harper Assistant Principal Second Violin Endowed Chair
Judson Harper and his three sons endowed the Assistant Principal Second Violin chair to honor Patricia A. Harper, his wife...
Lilla B. Morgan Principal Viola Endowed Chair
Bryan Morgan endowed this chair in 2011 to honor his mother for her contributions to the arts in Fort Collins.
Betty-Anne and Frank Jones Assistant Principal Viola Endowed Chair
Alison and David Dennis endowed this chair in memory of Alison’s parents. Betty-Anne enjoyed playing the cello throughout her life,...
Jeanise Brown Principal Cello Endowed Chair
In the fall of 2009, an effort began to endow a chair in honor of Jeanise Brown, a Guild member...
Joannah L. Merriman Assistant Principal Cello Endowed Chair
This endowment is dedicated to Joannah’s parents, Rosemary and Albert Joseph, who filled her life with music and cultural experiences...
Bettie Wilcox Principal Bass Endowed Chair
Bettie’s children—Dianne Harper of Fort Collins, Tim Hervey of Louisville, and Betsi Stephen of Chevy Chase, Maryland—have endowed this chair...
The Renate Justin, M.D. Principal Flute Endowed Chair
In the spring of 2010, Renate Justin, M.D., endowed this chair in memory of her granddaughter, Johanna Justin-Jinich. Renate was...
Fern Bennett Principal Piccolo Endowed Chair
The Fern Bennett Piccolo Chair was endowed by the Bennett family to honor the memory of Fern Bennett, who greatly...
David and Alison Dennis Principal Oboe Endowed Chair
Alison Dennis played Second Oboe with the Jakarta Symphony Orchestra, a highlight for her when she and David lived in...
The Walter Scott McColl Second Oboe Endowed Chair
Marty McColl Marsh, husband Scott Marsh, and brother Bruce McColl endowed this chair for Marty and Bruce’s father Scott, who...
Bob and Joyce Everitt Principal English Horn Endowed Chair
Joyce and Bob Everitt, and their family have contributed greatly to Colorado State University and the Fort Collins community. They...
Bill and Ruth Brown Principal Clarinet Endowed Chair
Bill and Ruth Brown have endowed the principal clarinet chair to honor all of the music teachers in the middle...
Cindy Haraway Second Clarinet Endowed Chair
Cindy Haraway endowed this chair in memory of Maestro Will Schwartz. She played second clarinet in the Fort Collins Symphony...
Tom Bittinger Principal Bassoon Endowed Chair
Dr. Bev Donnelley and Bill West endowed this chair to honor Tom Bittinger, who has played as Principal Bassoonist with...
Tom Gleason Second Bassoon Endowed Chair
In the fall of 2018, wife Ginnie and family endowed this chair in honor of their husband and father. Tom...
Freddy Martin Woodwinds Endowed Chair
In 2007, an endowed chair was established in memory of the late Freddy Martin, a respected American band leader and...
Pat and Edna Rizley Griffin Principal Horn Endowed Chair
The Griffin Foundation endowed this chair to honor the memory of Pat and Edna Griffin, who supported the Fort Collins...
Melanie Valente Second Horn Endowed Chair
In October 2019, Joe Valente endowed this chair in memory of his wife Melanie who sat on the board of...
Clark Livingston Principal Trumpet Endowed Chair
Tom and Marie Livingston endowed this chair to honor Tom’s father who served in the infantry and played trumpet in...
Jessica Stewart Wyllie 2nd/Associate Principal Trumpet Chair
Jessica Stewart Wyllie has lived, worked and volunteered in Fort Collins since 1980, and is thrilled to support the Fort...
Lynnette C. Jung Trombone Chair
Dr. Peter Springberg endowed this chair in loving memory of his late wife, a retired Air Force Mental Health specialist...
William E. Runyan Principal Bass Trombone Endowed Chair
In 2011, Myra Monfort endowed this chair to honor her husband who performed with the Fort Collins Symphony for 39...
Dane Johnson Principal Tuba Endowed Chair
In 2018, Doug Johnson endowed this chair to honor his son, Dane Johnson, who loves and has played the tuba...
Wayne & Phyllis Schrader Principal Timpani Endowed Chair
The Schraders are lifelong residents of Fort Collins who support many local non-profits, including the Fort Collins Symphony, Lincoln Center,...
Harrison Principal Percussion Endowed Chair
In 2013, Guild members Graham and Joanne Harrison endowed this chair, stating “It’s fun to watch the percussion instruments being...
Josephine Kathryn Guerriero Principal Triangle Endowed Chair
Through the Emerging Leaders Program, sponsored by the Bohemian Foundation, parents Jennifer Johnson and Michael Guerriero used their matching donation...
Kepler Principal Harp Endowed Chair
In fall 2012, the Kepler Harp Chair was endowed by friends of Kay Kepler Edwards to honor her dedication to...
Kathryn Edwards Principal Piano Endowed Chair
In August 2010, Kay Edwards endowed the piano chair to honor her pianist friends Clare Wilber and Mark Sloniker, as...
Marie L. Schall Organ Endowed Chair
Loren and Fran Schall have gifted this organ chair in loving memory of Loren’s mom who was a piano prodigy...
Tom Sutherland Celeste Endowed Chair
In February 2013, Jean Sutherland endowed this chair to honor her husband who said that music and books sustained him...
Sharyn H. & Larry J. Salmen Third Horn Endowed Chair
In 2021, Sharyn H. & Larry J. Salmen endowed this chair to honor all of the friendships made during Women’s...
Mary A. Kopco Second Flute Endowed Chair
Friends of Mary A. Kopco established an endowed chair to commemorate her outstanding dedication, devotion, and diligence as Executive Director...
Paisley Pettine Second Trombone Endowed Chair
Dr. Kenneth Pettine endowed this chair in honor of his wife, Paisley. Paisley has served with great joy for many...
Gayle Wunder Third Flute Endowed Chair
Gayle Wunder’s children, Michael and Kristin, endowed this chair to honor the memory of their mother and the time they...