The University of South Carolina ‘s School of Music has announced the largest donation in its history. The $1 million gift comes from James Copenhaver, the long-time former band director at the school. Copenhaver worked in the position from 1976 to 2010.
The school says the money will pay for about $50,000 in scholarships each year.
“With the ever-increasing cost of higher education, additional scholarship funding is needed to assure that students will continue to give service to the university through band participation,” the 68-year-old Copenhaver said.
School of Music Dean Tayloe Harding called the gift “transformative.”
The school has 500 undergraduate and graduate music majors studying a wide variety of instruments. There are an additional 1,500 students from other disciplines who also take classes in the School of Music.
