 James
J. Whalen Center for Music Open House
Ithaca College Community Invited to Attend
 The James J. Whalen Center for
Music, the new showcase home of the School of Music, will celebrate
its formal opening on Friday and Saturday, October 1–2.
Named for the College’s sixth president, the facility adds
68,000 square feet of teaching, performance, office, and laboratory
space to the original Ford Hall, home of the music school since
1965.
"From the classrooms to the performing spaces, the teaching
studios to the ensemble library, this is truly a first-class
building to house first-rate students and faculty," says
Arthur Ostrander, dean of the School of Music. "The four-story
atrium that connects a large portion of the new construction
to the original building is breathtaking. The overall effect
is one of beauty and functionality, making the Whalen Center
one of the finest facilities for music study in the country."
 An invitation-only dinner and
two concerts are being held during the weekend to thank those
whose financial support made construction possible or who provided
key leadership in the fund-raising effort, and to pay tribute
to some of the people who have played significant roles in the
history of the School of Music. The honorees will include Marjorie
Rooke Schwab ’69, the chair of the campaign committee, who
led a group of dedicated volunteers. The concerts will feature
performances by student and faculty soloists and ensembles, as
well as by a number of distinguished alumni. Among the pieces
being performed are several written by members of the faculty.
The entire community — both on campus and off —
will have an opportunity to see the Whalen Center in use at an
open house following the 1:00 p.m. formal dedication and ribbon-cutting
ceremony on Saturday, October 2 (see schedule, p. 4).
"The open house will provide an opportunity to observe
rehearsals in locations throughout the building and to see teaching
demonstrations that help explain the process by which students
learn their craft," says Ostrander. "We invite the
community to explore every floor and room in the new building
and to observe the changes and refurbishment in the original
building. There will be guides along the way to assist people
in finding locations and to answer questions."
Some highlights of the expansion include
a 250-seat recital hall, designed primarily for solo and
chamber music recitals choral and jazz rehearsal rooms a
professionally equipped recording studio that will also serve
as a laboratory/ classroom for a new major in audio recording
an electroacoustic music suite a music education resource
center with an attached observation room for student teacher
preparation a music technology classroom and laboratory a
user-friendly library for the ensemble music collection a
covered walkway from the upper parking lot that will provide
easier community access to concerts and recitals redesign
of the front and west entrances that will eliminate obstructions
for people with disabilities.
Additionally, the original building was given a thorough face-lift,
with extensive renovations and upgrades.
"There are certain events in the history of great institutions
that represent turning points," says Ithaca College president
Peggy R. Williams. "For Ithaca College, the opening of the
James J. Whalen Center for Music is just such an event. This
magnificent facility is the result of many years of dreaming,
planning, and building.
"I thank and salute president emeritus James J. Whalen
for launching the project, the faculty and students for enduring
years of cramped quarters and then the dust and noise of construction,
and the many alumni and friends whose gifts helped turn this
vision into reality. Thanks to your efforts, we continue to be
‘a school of music second to none.’ "
 Providing new facilities for music
students and faculty had long been one of Whalen’s priorities.
In December 1996 he announced the building expansion, along with
a $10.5 million capital campaign to fund the majority of the
project. At that time gifts totaling $7.2 million had already
been committed in honor of his presidency. Two remarkable challenge
grants stimulated an outpouring of support for the music campaign.
The Kresge Foundation awarded the College $500,000 to complete
the fund-raising effort after the College had successfully raised
$10 million. In the fall of 1998 the Park Foundation offered
a generous three-for-one challenge, and when the campaign had
raised an additional $250,000 by December 31, 1998, the foundation
awarded the College a grant of $750,000. In all, gifts from 1,350
donors amounted to $11.7 million in private support.
Upon stepping down in 1997, Whalen was named president emeritus.
In recognition of his 22 years of exemplary leadership, during
which the College experienced unprecedented growth — in
academic and cocurricular programs, in the size and caliber of
the faculty, in the number and the quality of the students, and
in physical and fiscal resources — the Ithaca College Board
of Trustees voted to name the expanded and renovated facility
in his honor.
 "You have left the mark of
your dedicated service on this academic community and on all
of us who have been privileged to know you," said board
chairman Herman E. Muller Jr. ’51 in announcing the tribute.
"We are grateful beyond expression for all you have done
to advance our college and for giving the fullest measure of
your vast energies and talents."
Meanwhile, construction began in December 1997 and proceeded
through the following year and into 1999. In March 1999 faculty
and students began to move into portions of the new facility,
and the new construction was completed in August. Renovations
to the existing facility were also completed during the summer,
and classes began in August in the new James J. Whalen Center
for Music. |
Editor: Keith
Davis
