Concordia receives $6 million gift to establish the Quello Institute for Music and Creative Arts  

Concordia College has received a $6 million commitment from John ’66 and Eileen (Sletten) ’68 Quello of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to establish the Quello Institute for Music and Creative Arts.

The $6 million commitment is the largest gift dedicated to the arts in the college’s recent history. Building upon a strong tradition of artistic excellence, the Quello Institute will support students and faculty, foster innovation and collaboration across disciplines, and elevate the visibility and impact of the arts throughout the campus and community.

“The Quello Institute will create new opportunities for students to explore their creativity and make the arts an even more meaningful part of their Concordia experience,” said Concordia College President Colin Irvine. “John and Eileen are helping us imagine what is possible when we invest in the arts as an essential part of a liberal arts education.”

An advisory council was formed and is currently developing plans for the Quello Institute, including ways to extend its impact beyond the Concordia campus through work with K-12 students and educators, artists, and the broader community.

A faculty and student showcase is planned for April. The event will highlight the creative work of Concordia students and give the community an early look at the Quello Institute’s vision.

The Quellos’ Concordia Connections

For the Quellos, the gift reflects generations of family involvement at Concordia and a lifelong appreciation for the role of music and the arts in the college community.

John and Eileen are both Concordia graduates, and all eight siblings in their families attended Concordia. Their daughter, Sara ’93, and son, Nathan ’96, also attended Concordia, and both married Cobbers.

The family’s history with the Concordia Christmas Concert spans nearly 70 years. John and Eileen attended with their families before becoming students. John participated in the concert all four years he was a student, and he and Eileen have continued attending the annual concert for decades.

John’s uncle, renowned artist and educator Cyrus M. Running, led Concordia’s art department and helped shape the college’s artistic legacy. The Cyrus M. Running Gallery now bears his name.

“Music and the arts have always been such an important part of our connection to Concordia,” said John Quello. “We hope the Quello Institute will shine a bright light on one of the college’s greatest treasures and raise it to even greater levels of excellence.”

John also served as a member of Concordia’s Board of Regents from 2005 to 2016, including 10 years on the executive committee. John and Eileen have supported Concordia through multiple scholarship funds and other philanthropic initiatives.

The Quello Institute will build on an arts tradition that remains an important part of the Concordia experience. More than 25% of Concordia students participate in musical activities, and students of all majors can participate in the college’s music ensembles. The college also offers programs in theatre, visual art, film, creative writing, and other disciplines.

The Quello family will be recognized during the Homecoming Concert on Saturday, October 10.