NAU Names Kitt School of Music

The year 2021 ended on a sweet note for Northern Arizona University, with a donation from longtime supporters Michael and Karen Kitt that has led to the naming of the Kitt School of Music. NAU also created the Michael and Karen Kitt Directorship within the College of Arts and Letters. This is the largest-ever donation for the college and will be used to enhance its music education experience, as well its connection to the Northern Arizona community.

The gift will specifically support the School of Music’s priorities of increasing NAU’s recognition of outstanding faculty and students, providing opportunities for future generations of music teachers, conductors, performers and scholars, and offering engaging community performances that can be enjoyed by all.

The Kitts have supported the School of Music in the past with donations used to create the Michael and Karen Kitt Orchestral Conducting Scholarship, the Michael and Karen Kitt Professorship for Piano, and, most visibly, the Kitt Recital Hall.

“Karen and Michael Kitt have been among the most important and enthusiastic supporters of the School of Music ever since they arrived in Flagstaff nearly a decade ago,” said College of Arts and Letters Dean Christopher Boyer.

The Kitts’ interest in the School of Music began years ago when they attended concerts at Ashurst Hall. “We realized the talent that’s in the School of Music is amazing, between the faculty and the students that they recruit. It just blew us away,” said Karen Kitt.

Inspired by these experiences, the Kitts realized that the aging Ashurst Hall was not an ideal place for musical performances. Thus, they made the lead gift for the new recital hall.

Michael Kitt said the positive impact of the Kitt Recital Hall had on the university and Flagstaff community made him and Karen realize the possibilities of an even larger gift. “We wanted to make it possible for the school to accomplish more with their students and to do more performances for the benefit of the community. Faculty-wise, it’s as good as it can get,” he said. “But the facilities, the equipment, the instruments – a lot of them are a little bit dated, so it’s pretty easy to make a big impact.”

NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera said the extended NAU community is proud to recognize the Kitts as Lumberjacks for life. “Mike’s and Karen’s foresight, leadership and generosity have had a transformative impact on NAU faculty, students and the Flagstaff community, elevating NAU’s prestige in Arizona and the region for excellence in the musical arts.”

“In general, the whole idea is to inspire the faculty and administrative staff with the knowledge that they now have the possibility of living out some of their dreams,” said Michael Kitt. FBN

By Kevin Schindler, FBN