UNCSA receives $10.1 million gift to establish American Roots Music Institute
UNCSA has received a lead gift of more than $10.1 million — the largest single gift in UNCSA history — from Winston-Salem residents Randall "Randy" and Kamalakshi "Kamu" Dishmon to establish the American Roots Music Institute in the School of Music.
When fully launched, UNCSA will offer a Bachelor of Music in American Roots, alongside a minor for undergraduates and opportunities for students in its high school. School of Music Dean Saxton Rose will consult with nationally recognized musicians including UNCSA alumnus, guitarist and American roots specialist Justin Poindexter (HS '01, BM '06); Martha Bassett, host of "The Martha Bassett Show"; fiddle and banjo virtuoso Rex McGee; and pedal steel guitar player DaShawn Hickman to begin designing the program, also drawing on additional perspectives from across the wide-ranging landscape of roots music. The first class of undergraduates in the American Roots Music Institute is expected to enroll in fall 2028, with a minor and high school offerings launching in fall 2026.
UNCSA Chancellor Brian Cole said the institute reflects both the university's mission and the state's legacy. "North Carolina is the cradle of American roots music, home to artists from Doc Watson to Libba Cotten to The Avett Brothers," Cole stated. This gift enables UNCSA to develop a program honoring those traditions while preparing emerging artists for success in an evolving field.
Dean Rose emphasized the program's significance, noting that "by offering world-class, affordable training in the very place where these traditions were born," UNCSA can cultivate the next generation of performers, educators and innovators who will carry roots music forward with authenticity and imagination.
Randy Dishmon, a retired global portfolio manager and lifelong bluegrass musician, and Kamu Dishmon, a retired pharmaceutical executive who grew up immersed in Indian classical music and art forms, both cherish American roots music. Through their gift, the Dishmons aim to elevate these art forms—often excluded from conservatory education—and provide young bluegrass and folk musicians with comprehensive conservatory training.
"It's time bluegrass and folk-oriented music receive the recognition and respect they deserve — as a true American art form," Randy Dishmon explained, highlighting UNCSA's ideal location in the heart of the art form's origins.
As a public conservatory in North Carolina, UNCSA is well positioned to meet growing demand for formal roots music training. The institute builds on the state's roots music heritage, which dates to the 1700s, when Scots-Irish and African traditions fused to create Appalachian old-time music and where the banjo—brought from Africa—developed into a defining American instrument. Today, North Carolina offers access to a thriving roots music community, providing mentorship networks that connect students to both tradition and contemporary practice. The state has produced countless legendary artists who shaped American roots music throughout the nation.
Singer/guitarist/songwriter Martha Bassett expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. "As a lifelong performer and educator, I am thrilled about the launch of the American Roots Music Institute at UNCSA," said Bassett, who performs music ranging from Americana to jazz, folk to country gospel, and hosts "The Martha Bassett Show," a monthly musical variety show featuring national, regional and local musicians. "This groundbreaking initiative will nurture exceptional musicianship and deepen cultural understanding by celebrating North Carolina's unique musical traditions," she continued. "UNCSA is the perfect home for this kind of innovative, tradition-based training, and I look forward to seeing the profound influence it will have on both artists and our community."
The Dishmons' gift comes as UNCSA prepares for a comprehensive campaign centered on transformational initiatives such as the American Roots Music Institute.