A Resonating Legacy
Beloved music educators honored through endowed School of Music professorship
September 3, 2025
Ralph and Norma Hartse were beloved music educators who inspired young musicians to strive for excellence in all areas of life. Throughout their teaching careers at Custer County High School in Miles City, MT, these University of Montana alumni built a memorable legacy that continues through the lives of their students.
Their daughter, Dr. Kristyna Hartse, honored this legacy by pledging in 2022 to create the Ralph J. and Norma M. Hartse Endowed Professor of Bands at UM’s School of Music — the first endowed professorship in the College of the Arts and Media. This year, the professorship became fully funded, providing salary support for Director of Bands Dr. James Smart.
Because the funds supporting this professorship are endowed, Dr. Hartse's gift will be invested in perpetuity with a percentage made available annually to support the position. This ensures that UM School of Music students will have exceptional instruction and performance opportunities available for years to come.
Although Dr. Hartse already sees the impact of her generosity, establishing a named professorship initially seemed to be a daunting task.
“My parents made exceptional contributions to their students, the Miles City community and music programs across the state,” she said. “I felt strongly that their legacy must live on — not just in memory, but in a meaningful and lasting way that will continue to inspire future generations of musicians. I considered other ways of honoring this legacy, but nothing seemed to fully reflect the depth of their influence.”
Dr. Hartse recalled, “The idea of establishing a professorship at my parents’ alma mater lingered in my mind. Still, it seemed overwhelming and far beyond anything I imagined I could accomplish.”
After speaking with UM Foundation staff, Dr. Hartse discovered that establishing a professorship in her parents’ names was simpler than she expected — and came with valuable tax benefits that could enhance her giving. What once felt daunting suddenly seemed achievable.
Dr. Hartse established and endowed the professorship in part through Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), which allow individuals 70 ½ or older to transfer up to $108,000 per year from a traditional IRA to a qualified charity — without counting the distribution as taxable income. She contributed the remainder of her gift through appreciated securities, enabling her to avoid capital gains taxes while maximizing the impact of her donation.
“I was able to utilize my retirement account and stock portfolio for giving without a remarkable increase in my income taxes,” she said. “This is an excellent way to reduce taxes while providing critical support to deserving academic programs.”
By reducing her tax burden, Dr. Hartse was able to make additional gifts to further support the School of Music and honor her parents’ legacy of musical mentorship and altruism. She established two scholarships — the Norma M. Hartse Endowed Scholar in Viola and the Ralph J. Hartse Endowed Scholar in Jazz — as well as the Ralph J. and Norma M. Hartse Endowment in Jazz, which provides ongoing, reliable support for the Jazz Program.
This flexible support will empower the program to pursue innovative and creative projects, expand performance opportunities, deepen community engagement and help students travel to festivals, performances and conferences — among other impactful initiatives.
Dr. Hartse said her decision to contribute to the School of Music is validated every time she visits UM to attend performances, observe rehearsals and classes, and meet students and faculty.
“The quality of my parents’ education at UM was reflected in their music programs,” she said. “It was of the utmost importance to me that their legacy would be carried forward by an institution embodying their values of excellence and hard work.”
Dr. Hartse, who attended summer music camps at UM during high school and continues to play multiple instruments, hopes her gifts will inspire others to provide opportunities for student musicians.
"We often forget that the creation and performance of music is not solely the result of pure talent,” she said. “University music programs require fiscal support to retain excellent faculty who train and nurture this talent. Donations are a meaningful way to ensure the intangible beauty of music continues to flourish and enrich our lives.”
Learn more about Ralph and Norma’s inspiring careers in music education.
Help Us Build the Future of Music
Your support can help transform UM’s School of Music through a vital building remodel — creating state-of-the-art spaces where students and faculty can thrive.
Consider making a gift through tax-savvy Qualified Charitable Distributions from your IRA or a donation of appreciated securities. Together, we can create an environment that inspires creativity, fosters excellence and ensures the next generation of musicians have the resources they need to succeed.
To learn more, contact Alison Schultz, senior director of planned giving, at 406-243-7449 or alison.schultz@supportum.org.