UNT’s College of Music received a $1.5 million gift this spring from the estate of the late philanthropist and honorary UNT alumnus Bill Winspear. With the gift, the university has established the endowed Margot and Bill Winspear Chair in Opera Studies, named in honor of Winspear and his wife, Margot. Paula Homer, director of the UNT opera program, was selected as the first person to hold the chair.
The endowed fund will be used for opera production costs, financial support for voice students in opera and other opera-related expenses. The College of Music is one of the largest and most respected comprehensive music schools in the country, and the opera program offers intensive training and performance opportunities to talented undergraduate and graduate music students through the college.