The John Thow Fund

In 2007, The John Thow Fund for Music Composition Graduate Students was established at the University of California, Berkeley. The fund was established, and continues to grow, through gifts made in memory of Professor Thow, who taught in the music department at Berkeley for 26 years.

In addition to his role as teacher and mentor to generations of young composers at Berkeley, Professor Thow also deeply believed in promoting new music in the Berkeley community. The fund was therefore established to continue this legacy by providing financial support for a doctoral composition student at Berkeley to help with the expenses involved in staging a performance of original work (including, but not limited to, preparing parts and scores, hiring professional musicians, facilitating readings or recordings.)

Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund may do so by sending a check made out to the UC Berkeley Foundation. Please indicate The John Thow Fund on the check and mail the check to:

The John Thow Fund
UC Berkeley Music Department
104 Morrison Hall # 1200
Berkeley, CA 94720-1200

Contributions may also be made via credit card by calling the Manager of Gift Administration at the UC Berkeley Foundation, at (510) 643-9809 or online:

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Giving Form

Gifts from current and former faculty of UC Berkeley, current and retired staff, currently enrolled students, and surviving spouses and partners of faculty and staff will be matched under the Chancellors Challenge program.