October 16, 2026
The Butler School of Music mourns the passing of Joe R. Long, a longtime supporter whose extraordinary generosity, together with that of his late wife, Teresa Lozano Long, has helped shape the school’s teaching, artistic programming and student opportunities for generations. Director of the Butler School of Music, Susan Thomas, said that Joe and his late wife Teresa made an incredible impact on students through the establishment of multiple endowments that have supported endowed professorships in piano and cello, an endowed scholarship fund, and major gifts to support the Butler School’s String Quartet-in-Residence, the Miró Quartet. Thomas said that she feels "fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know him during my time here in Austin and to work at an institution that has so benefitted from his generosity and commitment to what we do."
Butler School of Music Director Susan Thomas and Joe Long share a laugh onstage during the celebration of Joe’s 95th birthday.
For the Miró Quartet, the Longs’ support encompasses a deep personal connection and a shared belief in the importance of music and the arts.
“Joe and Terry were always at the heart of our presence here at UT, not only for their generous and dedicated financial support but more importantly for their friendship and passionate belief in the mission of the Butler School of Music and what the arts in the City of Austin could and should be,” the quartet said. “Joe’s wry humor and wise words will be sorely missed.”
Miró Quartet violist John Largess tells the audience that the next piece is dedicated to Joe Long during a concert in 2025
The Longs’ gift to establish the Long Center for the Performing Arts has helped make large-scale musical productions possible, including recent performances of John Corigliano’s Circus Maximus and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, works that require a venue capable of accommodating their ambitious musical and spatial demands.
At the Butler School, the Longs’ generosity has been especially transformative through the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Piano and the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Cello. These endowed positions have helped faculty attract talented students, provide financial assistance, and create opportunities for emerging musicians to develop their artistry on an international stage.
Butler School of Music Symphony Orchestra and Choir rehearse Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 onstage at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.
For Anton Nel, professor of piano and chamber music and division head for keyboard studies, the Long family’s philanthropy has had a profound impact on his work and on the individual lives and careers their generosity has made possible.
“Joe Long’s extraordinary philanthropy has enabled dozens of students to come to the Butler School to study with me,” Nel said. “Beyond that, the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair also made it possible for students to attend prestigious music festivals, international competitions overseas, and complete recording projects they could not otherwise have done.”
Nel recalls one particularly meaningful expression of Joe Long’s generosity: a piano that continues to serve students today.
“I selected a beautiful designer rosewood Steinway Model B for Joe and Terry’s home in 2009,” Nel said. “When they decided to move into a retirement facility, Joe generously gifted the piano to my studio, and now my lucky students and I can be reminded of his generous spirit every day.”
The Longs’ legacy has been equally significant for the Butler School’s cello program. Through the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Cello and its accompanying scholarship, faculty have been able to provide financial assistance to talented students whose ability to continue their studies might otherwise have been threatened by financial hardship. One especially meaningful example involved a gifted young cellist from Colombia whose family encountered unexpected financial difficulties. Additional assistance made possible through the Long Chair allowed the student to continue her education at Butler.
The endowment has also helped students build successful careers. Alumni supported through the Chair have secured positions with orchestras and opera companies including the Atlanta Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Portland Opera Orchestra, Welsh National Opera and Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. Beyond student scholarships, the Chair has enabled the cello program to bring distinguished musicians from leading orchestras in Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Pittsburgh and Seattle to campus for master classes and orchestral coaching.
Professor of Cello and Division Head of Strings Bion Tsang, who holds the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Cello, emphasized the enduring influence of the Longs’ investment in young musicians.
“His support has allowed us to bring extraordinary students from around the world to UT, offer them opportunities that might otherwise have been beyond their reach, and watch them go on to remarkable careers as performers and educators,” Tsang said.
For Tsang, the relationship also carries a deeply personal significance.
“On a personal level, I’ll always remember Joe’s gracious, regal spirit and his delightfully wry sense of humor, and I feel incredibly fortunate to hold the Chair that bears his and Teresa’s names,” he said.