By Darryl Gangloff

Hotchkiss honored Gisele Witkowski, instructor in piano, with the Jonathan D. Walsh ’80 Chair during a ceremony last month. She was recognized for her extraordinary contributions to music education and student mentorship.

The endowed chair is a gift of Barbara Hostetter ’77 and Amos Hostetter and is named in memory of Barbara Hostetter’s brother, Jonathan D. Walsh ’80. The gift continues the Hostetters’ longstanding commitment to music at Hotchkiss.

“Being named to an endowed chair is among the highest forms of recognition an institution can bestow on a faculty member,” said Head of School Craig Bradley. “Teaching is not a job. It is a vocation, a calling. It requires deep commitment and dedication.”

The Hostetters have played a transformative role in shaping music at Hotchkiss. Among their previous gifts is the Esther Eastman Music Center, named in honor of Mrs. Hostetter’s grandmother. The Hostetters endowed the Hotchkiss Philharmonic Orchestra Fund, gave a music and arts scholarship, and endowed the Joanne Eastman Sohrweide Chair, named for Mrs. Hostetter’s mother, who was a longtime music teacher at Hotchkiss.

In announcing the new chair, Bradley reflected on the life and legacy of Jonathan Walsh. He spent three years at Hotchkiss as a day student. He played piano and guitar, sang in the chorus, and held leading roles in multiple Hotchkiss Dramatic Association productions. He won the chorus prize in 1980. He also ran and skied cross-country, played softball, sailed, and wrote for the Whipping Post.

After leaving Hotchkiss, he went on to earn a B.A. and master’s degree from the University of Connecticut, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He became a professor of French studies at Wheaton College, where he also served as department chair. He passed away in 2023 at the age of 61.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Hostetters for their boundless generosity,” Bradley said.

Dean of Faculty Shannon Clark presented the chair to Witkowski, praising her 25 years of service to Hotchkiss and her lasting impact on generations of students.

“Today, we honor her with this lasting acknowledgment of her dedication as an educator and her transformational impact on Hotchkiss’s world-class music program,” Clark said.

Since joining the faculty in 2000, Witkowski has taught music theory, music history, and piano, and has supported nearly every aspect of the School’s music program. She coordinates ensemble rehearsals, prepares student musicians for performances and competitions, and has directed the Hotchkiss in Amalfi and Florence summer arts programs in Italy. She also serves as co-director of the Hotchkiss Summer Portals piano program.

Witkowski helped launch the inaugural International Hotchkiss Piano Competition in May alongside her husband, faculty member Fabio Witkowski. The competition welcomed accomplished young pianists from around the world, including five Hotchkiss students.

“At her core, she is above all else a teacher who works tirelessly to support, inspire, and mentor Hotchkiss students,” Clark said.

Students describe Witkowski as a teacher whose enthusiasm and care leave a lasting impression. One student shared that “Dr. Witkowski brings the most energy, dedication, and enthusiasm I’ve ever seen into every piano lesson.” Another called her “more than just a piano teacher,” describing her as “a mentor, a cheerleader, and someone her students know they can always turn to for inspiration.”

Clark thanked Witkowski for the countless ways she has enriched the Hotchkiss community.

“Your legacy of service and dedication to our School is exemplary and enduring,” Clark said.