UTSA receives $1.2 million gift to promote kids Musical Ed.

Kris Rodriguez (photo)

Public Affairs Specialist

UTSA 1604 Campus

Family legacy of education through music continues with estate gift

The University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Music has been awarded a $1.2 million estate gift to establish The Charlotte Louise Dashiell and Lota M. Spell Fund at UTSA. The endowment will be used to establish and maintain music education programs for children ages three to twelve and to train music teachers devoted to teaching children of this same age group.

The donation from the estate of 96-year-old Houston resident Lota Rae Wilkinson, is made in memory of her Great Aunt Charlotte Louise Dashiell, and her mother Lota M. Spell. While Wilkinson’s mother performed, studied and taught piano in Austria and Germany, Charlotte Dashiell raised her and was instrumental in developing her interest in music.

An impressive component among Lota Mae Spell’s long list of accomplishments was her knowledge of foreign languages. Her knowledge of German, French, Italian, Latin and Spanish, helped her draw wide recognition for her research in musical development throughout the Western Hemisphere, particulary in the Southwest and Mexico. She also served as editor of Texas Music News and associate editor of The Musicale and Southwestern Musician magazine.

For 32 years, Lota M. Spell taught music to children at her studio in Austin and promoted musical education for children with bulletins she prepared for the University Interscholastic League. For her contributions, she was also named a fellow by the Texas State Historical Association.