Giving to the Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music

Private gifts play a vital role in our continuous mission to enhance and maintain the quality of the Hayes School of Music as a premiere training ground in the Southeast for future performers, composers, conductors, music educators, music industry leaders and music therapists. Donations support student scholarships, program endowments, equipment, guest artists and operations that make the School of Music an exemplary place of learning.

Public institutions like Appalachian State University receive most of their funding from state government appropriations and student tuition, but these dollars are limited. Private financial support has become a major and growing source of revenue to enhance programs and create new initiatives.

Fundraising Priorities

Student Teacher Tuition Aid Program

The Teacher Shortage
A historic turnover in the teaching profession has created a national teacher shortage. In 1998, the National Center for Education Statistics identified a nationwide need of 2.2 million teachers between 1998-2008 because of teacher attrition and retirement and increased student enrollment. We are now experiencing that shortage. With a strong history in music education, a dedicated faculty, and a supportive administration, the Hayes School of Music is poised to address the music teacher shortage in North Carolina.

The Student Teacher Tuition Aid Program provides financial assistance to music education majors during the student teaching experience. Music education students often have financial difficulty during the student teaching semester; in addition to the cost of tuition, they incur additional costs for housing at the internship location, travel, and increased living expenses. The Student Teacher Tuition Aid Program will encourage students to complete the program of study, increasing retention in the music education program and graduate more music teachers to enrich the lives of the children of North Carolina and beyond. The Hayes School of Music seeks funding to provide scholarships for student teachers.

Appal PIE Scholarships

With the Appal PIE (Appalachian Partners In Education) Music Scholarships, the Hayes School of Music is able to attract and nurture the finest young scholars and performers. Too often premier students are forced to bypass Appalachian State University to go to a school or conservatory that can offer more lucrative awards.

The Appal PIE Music Scholarships present an opportunity for a donor to provide financial assistance to a music student through the four years of his/her undergraduate education. These "adopt-a-student” scholarships are $2,500 per year with a commitment for four years.

Appalachian State University-Community Music School

Appalachian State University Community Music School (ASU-CMS) seeks funding to provide financial aid for underserved youths to participate in ASU-CMS private and group music instruction. ASU-CMS collaborates with local schools and non profit agencies to recruit underserved students, as well as provide instruments and transportation.
ASU-CMS was founded in 2005 and will begin offering programs in the Fall of 2006. Located on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, ASU-CMS strives to provide quality music instruction and programs for interested individuals of all ages and levels with financial assistance for those in need. Our Artist-Teachers are faculty members of the Mariam Hayes School of Music and highly qualified teachers and performers from the community.

Cannon Music Camp

Cannon Music Camp seeks to provide the finest summer music experience for high school students in the Southeast. During a month-long session, students are provided with individual and group instruction in a variety of settings. Ensembles include Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensembles, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Women’s Choir, Flute Choir, Percussion Ensemble, and a variety of chamber music opportunities. Unique to this comprehensive summer music experience is a six-tier music theory program that is supplemental to individual private instruction and master classes for each performance medium (instrumental, vocal and keyboard).

The Hayes School of Music seeks funding to provide scholarship and faculty support for Cannon Music Camp and to expand the opportunities of the students to interact with professional musicians.

Graduate Vocal Quartet

The Hayes School of Music seeks financial support to provide scholarships to four talented graduate students who will form a graduate vocal quartet. The graduate vocal quartet will further develop their musical skills and knowledge through performance of high level vocal quartet repertoire. The graduate vocal quartet will perform at on-campus events and educational outreach programs throughout the Carolinas.

Appalachian Symphony Orchestra

The Appalachian Symphony Orchestra is an 80+ member performance ensemble composed of undergraduate and graduate students from the Hayes School of Music as well as talented student musicians from across campus and the community. The ensemble provides the High Country with culturally stimulating programming and offers young music students the opportunity to perform challenging orchestral works. The Appalachian Symphony Orchestra is a visible measure of our excellence.

Financial support would allow the Hayes School of Music to expand performance opportunities, purchase new music and continue presenting programs that contribute to the cultural education of both the University and the community.

Visiting Artists Program

Funds that support visiting artists advance the quality of our programs. Exposure to recognized leaders in music can have a tremendous impact on the careers of young artists and add immeasurably to the quality of the artistic work they create. Visiting artists give students the opportunity to supplement their studies with Hayes School of Music studio teachers through interaction with legendary guest performers whose insight and experience exemplify the highest levels of musical achievement.

Recording Studio

It is critical that music industry majors have access to the finest recording technology available in order to prepare for careers in the music industry. The performance faculty and students need opportunities to record their talents in a professional studio environment. Today, technology changes at an ever-increasing pace and equipment quickly becomes outdated. The Hayes School of Music seeks funding to support the equipment needs of the recording studio.

Performance Outreach

The Hayes School of Music seeks funding to provide support for regional outreach efforts by students and faculty. Funding will support travel, lodging, and other expenses of performing groups as they provide quality musical performances for the schools and communities of the state, the region, and the nation and faculty travel for the purpose of performing, conducting and presenting research, and providing service to the music profession

Additional Information

To learn about ways you can help the Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music,
please contact Anna C. Kuhlman at 828.262.2084 or kuhlmanac@appstate.edu.