Major improvements to the Music Building are closer to reality thanks to a recent generous gift to the Music Building Campaign from School of Music friends Neil and Kathleen Bogue.
The Bogues’ contribution adds to a long history of giving to the School of Music. Their support for UW music students and opera productions through gifts to Friends of Opera and other support funds has created opportunities for music students that otherwise would not have been possible. In 2017, they established the Neil and Kathleen Bogue Endowed Scholarship at the School of Music, creating an enduring source of support for music students at the University.
Devoted concertgoers, they are frequent attendees of student degree recitals, quarterly voice division recitals, opera productions, and other School of Music performances.
Their ties to the UW community extend back to the 1970s when both were students at the University. Kathleen holds a Master of Librarianship (‘77) and a Bachelor of Arts in English (‘75) from the UW. Neil earned a Master of Science in Mathematics (‘79) and later worked for many years at the UW’s Applied Physics Laboratory.
"Kathleen and I are gratified that our endowed scholarship continues to provide tuition support to School of Music undergraduates,” says Neil. ”But that it is only one aspect of attracting the best students. We chose to contribute to the Music Building Campaign to help provide the School's students with spaces to learn, practice, and perform that match their talent and passion."
The couple’s latest gift extends their support to revitalizing the physical spaces students and faculty use for learning and performance. The Bogues joined other School of Music friends to bring the Music Building Campaign total contributions beyond $800,000, taking advantage of a generous matching commitment from UW leadership that remains in place to further magnify the impact of their gifts.
“Neil and Kathleen Bogue are passionate about supporting our students, and we appreciate their recognition of the importance of revitalizing our spaces to make them more functional for performance and learning,” says School of Music Director Joël-François Durand. “We are deeply grateful for their thoughtful and generous support.”