Who are the Friends?
The elected members of The Friends Board are engaged community leaders who augment the efforts of the Dean and the Music School Development team through philanthropy, advocacy and publicity.
Events
Each year, The Friends Board hosts the Musical Feast; a movable extravaganza where ensembles perform in various venues within the Koger Center for the Arts on the USC campus while guests enjoy delicious food and drink. It is a night the community loves year after year. Don't miss it!
Support
By supporting the Friends of the School of Music Fund, you benefit from a special relationship with the university by knowing that you are making a difference for music students. You can donate directly to the Scholarship Fund, sponsor the Musical Feast, or attend any one of the more than 300 musical performances each year.
Join The Friends in their commitment to the dedicated and talented students and faculty of USC School of Music. Because of people like you, more students have more opportunities to become noted performers, composers, educators and music industry leaders.
Interested in serving on the Friends Board?
Contact Audra Vaz, Assistant Dean for Advancement, at (803) 777-9732 or via email at audra.vaz@sc.edu.
Board of Directors
David Martin Sickinger is the Architect/Principal for Garvin Design Group and he enjoys playing the piano.
Kevin J. Banks is a higher education professional dedicated to student success. He serves as Financial Aid Coordinator for Loan Services at the University of South Carolina, where he oversees private and federal loan programs and supports staff training. With more than 15 years of experience in enrollment management, financial aid, and registrar leadership, Kevin has built his career around helping students and families access educational opportunities.
A strong supporter of music and the arts, he values their ability to inspire, connect, and enrich communities, and in his spare time, he does music theatre. Kevin earned his MBA and Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship from DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is proud to serve on the Friends of the School of Music Board in support of USC’s students and programs.
Lynn Collins is a 1985 (B.A. Psychology) and 1989 (Masters +30 in School Psychology) graduate of the University of South Carolina. She met her husband while in graduate school, and they married at Rutledge Chapel in 1990. Their son carried on the legacy by graduating in 2020. While at USC, Lynn participated in Marching Band playing clarinet (member of Tau Beta Sigma). Since graduation, she has been an active member of the alumni band committee serving in a variety of roles including chair, communications committee chair, and organizer of the annual silent auction. She continues to support students in the marching band with a named scholarship.
Lynn retired as a School Psychologist after working in SC public schools for over 35 years. For 15 of those years, she served as the Executive Director of the SC Association of School Psychologists. In 2024, she was recognized as an “Outstanding Advocate” by the National Association of School Psychologists. She has also served as Executive Director of the District Five Foundation for Educational Excellence.
In her retirement, Lynn works as a travel advisor. In that role, she organized a block of hotel rooms for family and friends when the marching band participated in the 2025 Macy’s parade and has arranged for another block of rooms for London Band Week 2026. A portion of the proceeds from her travel business are donated back to the School of Music when clients mention USC.
She looks forward to continuing the support of the School of Music.
Stacy Levinson received her bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Carolina in 1983. She is the owner of Brittons on Devine in Columbia, SC, having taken over the business in 2017 from her brother Lucky Levinson when he retired after 44 years. Stacy is continuing her family’s legacy through her ownership as her parents founded the clothing business in 1946. Stacy and her husband Perry Lancaster are friends and supporters of the School of Music and are big fans of the Carolina Band.
Craig Plank is a State Farm Agent.
Julian is managing partner at LIFE 20/20 and the Founding Executive Director of the Here’s 2 Life Foundation. LIFE 20/20 is a minority-owned, small business that curates events, produces products, and delivers services that inform, inspires, educates and empowers children, youth, and families. He is a ’14 alumnus of the University of South Carolina where he received his Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching and Learning/Health Promotion, Education and Behavior. Julian is also an accomplished singer/songwriter, composer/arranger/producer.
Ex-Officio:
Dr. Tayloe Harding, Dean
Caroline Earp, Director of Alumni & Donor Engagement
Audra Vaz, Assistant Dean for Advancement
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded annually by the Friends of the School of Music to worthy students currently enrolled at the School of Music.
Friends of the School of Music Scholarship Sponsor
2025-26 Scholarship Recipients
Patrick Reindl, saxophone
Kayla Mathis, violin
Charlie Van Atter, horn
Lucy Moore, voice
Xavier Galloway, piano
Katie DeMartini, Music Industry Studies
Contact:
For more information, contact the School of Music Office of Development