One of the finest chamber music halls in the world is about to get some critical upgrades.
That’s according to officials at the Eastman School of Music, talking about a $700 thousand dollar project to renovate Kilbourn Hall.
Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School, Jamal Rossi, says Kilbourn is one of the great halls in the world, with great acoustics, but it lacks the comfort of most modern halls.
Rossi says the seats were last replaced in 1972.
"We need some new seats, carpet, lighting, and handrails. The big part of the project most people will never see, and that's to add a lift to make the stage ADA accessible, " he says.
Rossi says an acoustician has been hired for the project.
“And his job is don't screw it up. Don't change the acoustics, we want to preserve the acoustics as they are,” he said.
Two gifts totaling $700 thousand dollars will go toward the project. $300 thousand comes from a contribution by the Kenneth and Myra Monfort Charitable Foundation, while $400 thousand has been provided by the Avangrid Foundation, formerly Iberdrola USA.
Board member and former Kodak CEO Antonio Perez says says it's an important to keep George Eastman's vision alive.
"I think it's our job now as the community to maintain and to update his legacy."
The project will close Kilbourn Hall from July to September.