Some have described walking the hallways of the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center as pure magic. From the soft playing of pianos in rehearsal rooms to the vibrant roar of the Pride of the Southland Band at practice, it’s easy to become immersed in the many soundtracks that fill the beautiful Music Center on Volunteer Boulevard. Of course, as everyone knows, magic is only as powerful as the collective belief in it.
Mrs. Natalie L. Haslam, whose belief in that magic and in the power of music, forever shaped our College. She passed away on January 16, 2026, after recently celebrating her 94th birthday in November. A 1952 alumna of the University of Tennessee and a native Knoxvillian with a deep love for Rocky Top, she devoted her life to her family and to serving her community, with a special passion for enriching arts and culture at UT and throughout the region.
Mrs. Haslam’s legacy within the College runs deep. Because of the Haslam family’s generosity, the state-of-the-art Natalie L. Haslam Music Center opened in 2013, bringing all of the University’s music programs under one roof for the first time. When the former School of Music was elevated to a College of Music, the Natalie L. Haslam Founding Deanship was created to provide Dean Jeffrey Pappas with the resources needed to support students and programming. In 2024, the College was named the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, a distinction the College is honored to bear.
I am not a musician, but music has always meant a lot to me. If we are lucky, music is a part of our lives at almost every turn – from the church services and weddings we attend, to football, basketball and other sports functions, and even to the parties, movies, plays and social activities in our lives. There’s always music. At the University of Tennessee, we are blessed to have an amazing music program, and Jim and I appreciate that very much. I’m honored to have my name associated with it.”
Natalie L. Haslam (1931-2026)
Namesake of College
It is because of Mrs. Haslam’s unwavering commitment to music that our students can learn, perform, and grow in a space that reflects the very best of what music can offer: creativity, discipline, connection, and purpose. Her legacy lives not only in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, but in every student, faculty member, and community member inspired within its walls.
“Natalie was the kindest, most gracious, and most generous person I have ever met,” said Pappas. “You cannot think about the College of Music without noting the impact of Natalie L. Haslam. Beyond her support and dedication to the arts throughout the Knoxville community, I will take many lessons from my interactions with her, including the idea that kindness can be given freely. She had a major impact that will resonate for generations.”
The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Haslam and the entire Haslam family. We will honor Mrs. Haslam’s memory by continuing to champion excellence in music and education, just as she so passionately did.
