In June, the university announced an upcoming $35 million facelift and expansion to the 1939-era College of Music Building. Plans call for 8,500 square feet of interior renovations and 35,000 square feet of new construction.
The project will encompass new performance, rehearsal, and practice rooms; a lecture hall; studios and offices; a recording/multimedia room; and a café.
Guests will enjoy superior acoustics and climate control. Performers will ?nd larger practice areas for ensembles, choirs, and seminars.
Musicians will bene?t from better hearing protection. And there will be larger spaces for student/faculty studio collaborations.
Private fundraising is an integral part of the project. MSU alumnus James Billman Jr. (’69, Natural Science, Honors College) made a lead gift to begin the project.
Additional major support came from alumni Byron (’54, Natural Science) and Dolores (’54, Communication Arts & Sciences) Cook, the late Ruth Charles (’47, Music) and Selma Hollander (’62, ’65, Arts and Letters).
Every year, 550 students pursue music degrees and another 2,000 students participate in ensembles, classes, rehearsals, and performances in the college.
