Nelson School of Music launch rebuild fundraising campaign

Nelson School of Music to launch rebuild fundraising campaign.

The Nelson School of Music is set for a major revamp, as part of the earthquake strengthening requirements that have seen the heritage building closed for over a year.

School of Music Trust Chairman Roger Taylor said the plans were drawn up, major funders had committed their support, and it was now over to the community.

“We have developed a plan that enhances the much-admired auditorium, gives it a more impressive entrance foyer and improves the backstage and public facilities of this part of the building,” he said. “In addition we intend to develop the Rainey House site in Collingwood Street to create a full-size orchestral rehearsal room that can double as a recital theatre, along with new studios, classrooms and a library.”

Mr Taylor said the community fundraising target was $1.4m, out of the total project cost of $6.4m.

Fundraising committee chair Colleen Marshall said she was confident there would be plenty of support for the project, given the School of Music’s role at the heart of Nelson’s musical life, and its national reputation.

“The Nelson School of Music provides educational opportunities for children and adults, it’s an important entertainment venue for the city and it’s the home of choirs and the orchestra - big groups that play an important part in our community,” she said. “It also offers employment to teachers and has a wider economic role as a venue for events such as the Adam Chamber Music Festival, which brings an estimated $4.5m spend into the region.”

The Nelson School of Music fundraising campaign will be officially launched at a function in the City Council Civic Chamber on Wednesday June 24. The fundraising committee is approaching Nelson businesses and individuals and applying for grants. There will also be fundraising projects in the community and other ways for people to contribute.

Construction work is expected to start before the end of year and the buildings will reopen in late 2016, ready for the Adam Chamber Music Festival in February 2017.

A brochure with details of the project and the ways to donate will be available from the Nelson School of Music website nsom.ac.nz from Wednesday, or picked up from Fifeshire House

ENDS

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