The friends and family of Karen K. Bishop, utilizing the generous opportunity of the Morgridge Match program, endowed an opera director professorship in her name following her untimely death in January of 2015. A proud alumna of the School of Music, as well as an active scholar, performer and philanthropist, Dr. Bishop was a devoted supporter of the Opera program from which she received her D.M.A. degree in 2011.

Karen K. Bishop
With the success of the professorship, Karen’s husband, Dr. Charles W. Bishop, called for the creation of a committee for advancement work to ensure the success of the voice and opera program for years to come. The committee, which consists of Charles Bishop, members of the School of Music faculty and staff as well as friends and supporters from the larger Madison community, has identified four critical needs for the opera program:
1. An additional endowed professorship in voice to ensure that the School of Music can attract and retain the highest caliber of faculty to support its student performers.
2. Student financial support to provide fellowships, teaching assistantships, scholarships and awards for graduate and undergraduate students in order to recruit best quality talent around the country and the world, making UW-Madison one of the best schools in the country for voice and opera studies.
3. Underwriting support for opera productions to provide the highest quality musical and dramatic experiences for our students and audiences.
4. Funding to renovate the Opera Program’s historic Carol Rennebohm Auditorium in Music Hall to provide professional experiences for our students.
You can join in strengthening the UW-Madison opera program by giving at the following levels of support. Donors who make gifts to this fund will be recognized in ongoing opera programs.
Levels of support for the Karen K. Bishop Fund for Voice and Opera, with examples of impact to the program.
The Chorus
$100-$999
Awards for students for travel/summer program; production costs
The Impresario
$1,000-$4,999
Awards for voice/opera students; production costs.
The Director
$5,000-$9,999
Scholarships and awards for students; production costs.
The Prima Donna
$10,000-$24,999
Support for scholarships, awards, fellowships and teaching assistants.
The Producer Circle
$25,000-$49,999
Underwriters for one or more University Opera productions; fellowships; scholarships.
The Bishop Circle
$50,000 or more
Endow portions of the voice and opera program, including professorships, scholarships and fellowships.
Give online now!
Or, if you prefer, make a check payable to University of Wisconsin Foundation and note “Bishop Fund for Voice and Opera” in the memo line. Please mail your check to University of Wisconsin Foundation, US Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807.
Learn More About Giving
For more information about giving opportunities, contact Rebekah Sherman at 608.572.2077 or at rebekah.sherman@supportuw.org