BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Music Center has taken a big step toward a long-awaited move to its new home, according to a news release.
On July 8, the Center officially took ownership of the former Winston Prouty campus on Guilford Street, across from Living Memorial Park.
Renovation and expansion work will soon begin to create a facility to better accommodate staff, faculty and students, and the center's performance and education programs.
“Purchasing the former Winston Prouty campus is a historic moment and the culmination of decades of hard work, vision, dedication, resources and a firm belief in the value of our organization by so many special individuals,” BMC Managing Director Mary Greene said in a news release.
Last fall, the Center signed a purchase agreement for the Winston Prouty campus and last month received approval from the Brattleboro Development Review Board to move forward.
The existing building on the site will be repurposed to create a 10,510 square-foot Music School with a 70-seat recital hall, percussion studio, music library, mixed-use classroom, and 12 soundproofed teaching studios.
Connected to the school will be a newly built 4,400 square-foot, 224-seat performance auditorium.
Both structures will be fully accessible, and there are opportunities to make the Center's new home green and sustainable.
Greene said the move allows the Center to expand its curriculum, offer new courses, and accommodate larger classes, as well as collaborate with area organizations.
Having a facility of this caliber also will help the Center retain and attract a faculty of professional musicians and talented educators, Greene said, and will draw students of music from southeastern Vermont and beyond.
“Transforming the current building will be the first order of business, with the goal to relocate the Music School from Walnut Street next summer,” Greene said. “Of course, all the best of the BMC as well as decades of fond memories and wonderful music will go with us to Guilford Street.”
Founded in 1952, the Brattleboro Music Center consists of numerous performance and education programs led by talented artistic directors and a dedicated faculty of 40 professional musicians. The nonprofit's programs include the Brattleboro Concert Choir, Windham Orchestra, Blanche Moyse Chorale, Chamber Music Series, and annual Northern Roots festival.