Donations Help Our Students Thrive
Your gift can have a significant impact in the future to the success of one or more School of Music students:
Shupeng Cao, a doctoral student at the University of South Carolina School of Music, was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Whittaker Composition Commission Fund award, fulfilling a composer's dream of having his work premiered by top musicians.
Barbara and Mark Whittaker, are music enthusiasts and originally from Michigan now
residing in South Carolina. They were inspired by the talent of the School of Music
students during the 2022 Musical Feast. This led them to establish the Whittaker Composition
Commission Fund, which supports student composers by commissioning new works each
year, with different ensembles performing the premieres.
The fund, created with the assistance of Assistant Dean for Advancement Audra Vaz, provides financial support for students and enriches the educational experience by offering professional commissions to current composition students. “[This fund] helps support the core mission of our school to advance excellence, student success, and diverse skilled musicians,” said Professor of Composition Dr. John Fitz Rogers .
Shupeng Cao, who is now pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Composition, created the piece "A Sliver of Sky" for the New Sounds Quartet, a graduate string ensemble dedicated to contemporary music. “Writing this piece gave me the confidence that I have the ability to work on a commission project under a strict deadline," said Shupeng. "It helped me develop more efficient ways of composing, learn to manage my time and overall make me more professional as a composer.” The piece premiered on April 16, offering students and the public a unique musical experience.
September 2025 Donor Spotlight
Buford Norman and Elizabeth Joiner
Buford Norman and Elizabeth Joiner have been longtime friends and supporters of the School of Music and audience staples at our concerts and events. And both were distinguished faculty members of USC for over 25 years. Sadly, Elizabeth passed away on April 5, 2025, after battling breast cancer. To honor her wishes of leaving money to the School of Music to help students, Buford made generous gifts in both their names to support various program areas within the School. We recently talked with Buford about their shared love of music and creating a legacy for Elizbeth at the School of Music.
Tell us a bit about your background — where you’re from originally and how Columbia became, or always has been, a part of your story.
I grew up in Memphis and went to college at Davidson, where I met quite a few people from South Carolina. After a PhD at Yale and a teaching job at Iowa State, I took a position at Carolina in 1980, partly because a distinguished scholar in my field (seventeenth-century French literature) had been teaching there. I liked the people in the language department, especially Elizabeth Joiner, who became my beloved wife a few years later.
What is your connection to the School of Music?
Because of my interest in classical music and opera, I attended recitals and got to know several members of the music faculty. I also taught a course in literature and music (mostly opera).
Why do you give to and support the USC School of Music?
Having good music in Columbia is very important to me, as it was to Elizabeth. She wanted to leave some money to the university, and we agreed that part of it should be used to help students in the School of Music.
What impact do you hope your support has on our students and community?
I hope it will attract good students and guest performers to Carolina, especially in the areas of early music and of chamber music.
What does supporting the School of Music mean to you personally?
It has given us the opportunity to hear good music in Columbia and get to know some of the students, faculty, and staff.
Do you play a musical instrument(s)?
Yes, I have been playing the harpsichord for 50 years!
How has music played a role in your life or impacted you personally?
I take great pleasure in listening to music. I am fascinated by its formal structure and often moved by performances.
Do you have a favorite School of Music ensemble(s) or concert series?
Graduate String Quartet; Opera at USC full stage productions; Parker Quartet - Guest Artist Residency; Southeastern Piano Festival; USC Symphony Orchestra
Who is your favorite composer or musical artist — classical or contemporary?
J.S. Bach
What would you tell another member of the Midlands community about the USC School of Music?
I would tell them that the quality of performances is very high, and the students work hard and are eager to have new experiences.
What is something the Midlands community may not know about the School of Music that you think they should?
Its students often give performances around the US and around the world.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience as a donor?
It means a lot to me to know that some students are able to take part in activities that would have been unavailable to them without our donation.
You Transform Lives
When you give to the School of Music, you fulfill the dreams of talented, hard-working individuals. You foster innovative music projects, provide funding for music education and enable students to perform, enriching their perspectives and experiences. Your generosity fuels our drive to build a diverse and creative community of musicians, music educators, music industry professionals and music lovers. With your help, our students are inspired and encouraged to expand their horizons and dream big. When you support the School of Music, you play a crucial role in the transformative power of how music changes the lives of our students, who in turn enrich the lives of others.
To learn more about the ways you can transform a student’s life or leave a legacy at the School of Music, contact Audra Vaz, Assistant Dean for Advancement.