Announcing the Marika Fischer Hoyt Chair
by Meranda Dooley, Manager of Individual Giving
The MSO is pleased to announce that the third chair of the viola section has been endowed and named in perpetuity the Marika Fischer Hoyt Chair. This chair is currently held by violist Diedre Buckley, who has performed with the MSO since 1992.
Marika Fischer Hoyt was a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra viola section for over 20 years. She co-founded the Ancora String Quartet and the “Just Bach” series, and was a founding member of Madison Bach Musicians and Sonata a Quattro. She revived and led Madison’s Bach Around The Clock community music festival and served on the board of the Madison Early Music Festival. She also performed with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and hosted classical music programming on WPR. Marika made outstanding contributions to Madison’s music community. She passed in February 2023 following a courageous battle with cancer.
Close friends and family of Marika organized a campaign to raise $75,000 to endow the chair in her name. This campaign began in May and throughout the summer, the MSO received gifts from 50 donors. Last month, we received the final gift from a leading organizer and donor that reached the goal. The MSO is so grateful and honored to receive these meaningful gifts made in memory of Marika.
To learn more about chair endowment and other opportunities, visit madisonsymphony.org/endowment or contact Casey Oelkers, Director of Development, at (608) 260-8680 x228 or coelkers@madisonsymphony.org.
Photo Credit: Katrin Talbot, Peter Rodgers