September 28, 1998 Volume 21, No. 3

Music School Campaign Meets Goal

"The generosity of over 1,200 alumni and other friends of the College who have contributed to the

Ithaca College has met its original goal of $10.5 million in the capital campaign for the James J. Whalen Center for Music. The Kresge Foundation awarded Ithaca College a challenge grant of $500,000 for successfully reaching the $10 million mark in the campaign. And thanks to a new challenge grant from the Park Foundation, the campaign has an opportunity to raise even more funds for this project. The Park Foundation has announced that it will award $750,000 to the project if Ithaca College raises an additional $250,000 by December 31, 1998.

"The generosity of over 1,200 alumni and other friends of the College who have contributed to the campaign has paid off handsomely," says Ithaca College president Peggy R. Williams. "Their contributions have helped us make the case to major funding organizations that this project is indeed worthy of their involvement. Though we have successfully reached the original campaign goal, we hope this new challenge will inspire additional giving even as construction on the building nears completion."

In December of 1996 the College announced plans to nearly double the amount of teaching and performance space for the School of Music with a 65,000-square-foot addition to Ford Hall, home of the school since 1965. A two-year, $10.5 million fund-raising effort led by campaign committee chair Marjorie Rooke Schwab ’69, Building the Center for Music at Ithaca College, was also announced at that time to pay for a large portion of the project. The campaign got off to a substantial start with the commitment of $7.2 million from anonymous donors, given in recognition of president emeritus James J. Whalen’s 22 years of service to the College.

"We owe the Park Foundation a tremendous debt of thanks, both for providing such an exciting opportunity for us to continue raising funds for the center and for investing in a project that will benefit the entire Ithaca community, on campus and off," says Bonnie J. Gordon ’77, vice president for college relations and resource development. "I am thrilled by this latest development in our efforts for our School of Music, and confident that we will meet the challenge successfully."

Features of the James J. Whalen Center for Music, which is scheduled to be completed next spring, will include a new recital hall, an electroacoustic music suite, a computer classroom and lab, increased rehearsal space, a music education resource center, recording control rooms, faculty teaching studios, and an ensemble collection library. The extensive renovation of the existing music facility will also provide chamber music rehearsal space and enhanced backstage facilities for the auditorium and recital hall.