Another $12 Million to Finish to Green Music Center

Back when we were considering sending our daughter to Sonoma State University one of the things that attracted us to that school was the proposed Green Music Center, a state-of-the-art concert hall and classroom facility that was to be built on the campus.  Based on the early information we had we expected the whole thing to be done and open by the end of her sophomore year.

Well, as you know the economy tanked and while the school had a significant head start on the project thanks to the donations from The Greens, they didn't have the money to finish the project.  The classrooms, rehearsal halls and offices have opened in the last couple of years, and they've started having some concerts in the main hall even though they have yet to install the permanent seating.  The last time I was there the lobby still looked like a construction site.  I'll be attending another concert there this Friday night.

Today it was announced the school has received the final funds needed to finish everything up, though the grand opening won't occur until after my daughter finishes her credential year (her 5th at the school):

Sonoma State University announced today a $12 million gift for the Green Music Center from philanthropists Joan and Sanford I. "Sandy" Weill, enabling the University to complete the spectacular concert hall and adjoining lawn and commons performance venues.

This is the largest cash gift in the University's history and makes it possible to officially open the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall, Lawn and Commons for the 2012-2013 Season with a grand opening celebration planned for Fall 2012.

"We care deeply about the communities we live and work in," said Joan and Sandy Weill. "When we first toured the Green Music Center we were immediately inspired by the beauty, the acoustics and the wonderful potential for this spectacular arts venue."

Robert Cole, a well known arts presenter and conductor who led UC's Berkeley's Cal Performances for 23 years, has been appointed artistic consultant and will work with Jeff Langley, Artistic Director of the Green Music Center and Director of SSU's School of Performing Arts, to lead programming for the Center focusing on the finest international performing artists in a broad range of disciplines.

The Santa Rosa Symphony will be the Center's orchestra-in-residence. A handful of world class artists have already commented on the Hall's exceptional sound during private visits to sample the acoustics including Lang Lang, Fred Hersch, Ruth Ann Swenson, Chanticleer and Lee Konitz.

Designed by architect William Rawn, working closely with acoustician Lawrence Kirkegaard, the 1,400 seat Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall is modeled after Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood and was designed to replicate the intimacy and acoustics of Vienna's Musikverein and Symphony Hall in Boston.

I took those pictures during my trip there last October.

It's a beautiful facility and I'm glad they're finishing it - I just wish it had been done while my daughter was still in the music department there. She has gotten several opportunities to play in the big hall, and her senior recital in April will be in one of the rehearsal halls in the classroom part of the facility. I hope one day I can get a chance to hear the San Francisco Symphony play in that hall (there have been some discussions about using the facility as a summer home for the Symphony, and director Michael Tilson Thomas toured the building some months ago).

Friday night should be fun, and I'm sure the folks in charge will be in a pretty good mood.