November 05, 2018
A harmonious new home for music
Inside Andover’s commitment to artistic discoveryThe Academy is making an unprecedented investment in the musical arts with a new instructional and performance center that will elevate the Andover experience for the entire campus community.
The 30,000-square-foot structure will replace an outmoded Graves Hall—which will be thoughtfully repurposed—and serve the more than 700 students who participate in music programming annually. To be located on Phillips Street, adjacent to the Peabody Institute, the music building will become the prominent western anchor of a newly defined “cultural corridor” on campus.
The center will be acoustically engineered and climate-controlled to provide students and faculty with exceptional opportunities to explore their talents together and collaborate on technique and interpretation. A key feature will be a series of flexible ensemble spaces that will double as rehearsal areas and concert venues, accommodating all instrument groups from small string quartets to the Academy Symphony Orchestra.
“Music and the arts are such a vital part of today’s Andover education,” says music department chair Christina Landolt ’02. “We want to provide our students with every chance to grow and thrive, and this building will be nothing short of transformative.”
The facility will house light-filled classrooms, individual practice rooms tailored for voice and instrument-specific use, and a cutting-edge recording studio. The new studio and sound booth will accommodate rock bands and the school’s radio station as well as classical and jazz musicians, allowing artists with diverse interests to interact on a daily basis.
We want to provide our students with every chance to grow and thrive, and this building will be nothing short of transformative.
”Andover’s teachers will similarly benefit from enhanced amenities—with a faculty suite more than doubling the work and meeting space available to resident and adjunct instructors.
The new center will be built through donor support of Knowledge & Goodness: The Andover Campaign the largest and most comprehensive fundraising initiative in Academy history.
Early investors include Michelle and Kevin Kwong ’95, who made a gift in honor of his family. “My parents inspired me throughout my education,” says Kevin. “My father, a musician himself, encouraged me to pursue music, which became a significant part of my Andover experience. With this gift, we are thrilled to help forge new and exciting opportunities for the school’s talented performers.”
Numbers and notes
30,000 ft2 purpose-built structure on two floors
3 flexible ensemble spaces
250 seats for performances
3 state-of-the-art classrooms
19 practice rooms
2 technology labs, plus electronic music studio and “Rock Room” with recording and broadcast capabilities
8,500+ recordings and digital databases in music library
To support this initiative, please contact Nicole Cherubini, director of development, at 978-749-4288.
Categories: Arts
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