Back to Press Release List > 06/29/2007 - Carnegie Hall Board Approves Future Studio Towers and Backstage Renovation
BOARD APPROVES FUTURE RENOVATION OF
CARNEGIE HALL STUDIO TOWERS AND BACKSTAGE AREAS
Newly-renovated and expanded facilities to support continued
artistic and education growth
New York, New York; May 21, 2007 –Following detailed evaluation of its present and future programmatic needs, Carnegie Hall today announced that its board has approved the development of a detailed design plan which will lead to extensive renovation of Carnegie Hall’s Studio Towers and backstage areas, including the addition of substantial dedicated space to house Carnegie Hall’s ever-growing education programs.
“Carnegie Hall’s leadership team has been focused on developing strategies to build upon the Hall’s reputation as a world-class arts institution. We have been exploring every opportunity, through Carnegie Hall’s many programs and activities, to fulfill its mission: making great performances by the world’s finest musicians and educational programs of the highest caliber accessible to as many people as possible,” said Executive and Artistic Director Clive Gillinson. “Central to our planning has been an analysis of how best to utilize our building to serve our mission, taking the Hall into the twenty-first century and insuring that it is as important to the future of music as it has been to the past.”
The need to develop Carnegie Hall’s building has grown out of a comprehensive examination of the physical space needed for its extensive education programs. These programs, engaging people from all walks of life throughout the New York metropolitan area, across the country, and around the world, have long outgrown available space within the Hall. Plans for a newly-renovated Carnegie Hall will address this issue, creating an exciting variety of new resources—classrooms, rehearsal spaces, practice rooms, and large ensemble rooms—to support these important initiatives. In addition, recommendations related to the improved reconfiguration of the Hall’s backstage areas to maximize efficiency are being studied and will be incorporated into the overall design plan. The updated building will, for the first time, enable a new and inspiring connection between Carnegie Hall’s performers, students, and audiences all under one roof.
After rigorous study, it has been concluded that Carnegie Hall’s growing needs will require it to occupy 100% of available space found within the existing building’s footprint, including those spaces in its Studio Towers that are currently occupied by tenants. Carnegie Hall’s three auditoriums—Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Weill Recital Hall, and Zankel Hall—will not be touched by the renovation, and performance calendars for those venues will not be affected by future construction.
”We believe that Carnegie Hall has a responsibility to inspire the next generation of music lovers, nurture tomorrow’s musical talent, and play a central role in shaping the evolution of music education itself,” said Mr. Gillinson. “With our rich history, loyal audiences, access to the world’s greatest artists, and, now, the creation of these newly-expanded facilities, we will be uniquely positioned to make this contribution to the future of music.”
Complete details about this renovation project, including a timeline for the building expansion, will be shared by Carnegie Hall in early 2008.
About Carnegie Hall’s Music Education Programs
The Weill Music Institute taps the world-renowned resources of Carnegie Hall, offering a wide range of music education programs that inspire people from all walks of life: from preschoolers through adults, concertgoers to developing musicians. These programs reach more than 115,000 people each year in the New York City metropolitan region, across the United States, and around the world.
Programs of The Weill Music Institute program include:
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Carnegie Hall And The Schools |
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| The McGraw-Hill Companies CarnegieKids | Pre-School |
| Musical Explorers | Grades 2-3 |
| LinkUP! | Grades 4-6 |
| Communities LinkUP! across the nation | Grades 4-6 |
| Perelman American Roots | Grades 7-8 |
| Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival | High School |
| Global Encounters | High School |
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Carnegie Hall Trains The Next Generation |
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Professional Training Workshops |
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The Academy—A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and The Weill Music Institute |
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The Weill Fellows Program |
| Carnegie Hall In The Community |
| Carnegie Hall/Citi Neighborhood Concert Series |
| Communities LinkUP! |
| Distance Learning Events |
| Online Educational Products, including Listening Adventures and Performance Guides |
| Programs For The General Public At Carnegie Hall |
| Discovery Concerts |
| Young Artists Concerts |
| Family Concerts |
| The McGraw-Hill Companies CarnegieKids |
| Pre-Concert Talks and Special Symposia |
Also two special Berlin in Lights festival education projects in Fall 2007, The Rite of Spring dance project, and the Songs: Ritual Rhythms creative learning project.
The Academy—A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and The Weill Music Institute is a new program that serves the finest post-graduate musicians who are embarking on their careers by helping to bridge the gap between their academic and professional lives. Established in January 2007, the two-year Fellowship provides performance opportunities at both Carnegie Hall and The Juilliard School; advanced musical training through master classes and coaching; and intensive teaching instruction leading to hands-on experience working with students in the New York City public school system, in collaboration with the New York City Department of Education.