Early Christmas for Nelson School of Music

The campaign to restore and rebuild Nelson’s heritage School of Music has had an early ‘Christmas present’, with news that grants from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board have boosted the fundraising appeal by a total of $1.2 million.

The $800,000 from the Lottery’s WWI Environment and Heritage Committee acknowledges the important place the 114-year-old School of Music auditorium has in Nelson’s History; while the $400,000 from the Community Facilities Fund recognises the School’s accessibility and its role in music teaching and performance in the wider Nelson community.

Nelson School Of Music chair Roger Taylor said it was great news for the $6.4million project.

“A huge effort went into these grant applications and our success with a national panel of heritage experts recognises the significance of the School and of the restoration project,” he said. “These grants remove any doubt that the project will go ahead. With funding of $3million from the Nelson City Council, $850,000 from the Rata Foundation and $350,000 from our own Endowment Trust we are very close to our target.”

“Our focus is now on our public fundraising campaign which has already raised over $600,000. With the success of the two lottery grants, the remaining target of just over $400,000 is very achievable and we have every confidence the community will support us get over the line now the project has a green light.”
Mr Taylor said there were some exciting projects lined up to complete the public fundraising, including an opportunity for supporters to sponsor seats in the refurbished auditorium, in a campaign that will be launched at this summer’s Opera in the Park, and a 24-hour concert based on the concept of ‘Sleeping with the Steinway’, the School of Music’s grand piano, which is currently housed at Old St John’s.

Design for the School redevelopment is complete, the project will go to tender in the New Year and construction is expected to start in March.

Mr Taylor said the redevelopment design provided an ‘exciting and intelligent balance’ between the heritage aspects of the old auditorium and functionality of a modern performance venue and music school. The redevelopment includes enhancing and strengthening the 1901 auditorium up to modern building code, removal of the current foyer, Balling Theatre and Rainey House and replacement with a new foyer area that showcases the old auditorium, reconfiguration of the Beatrice Kidson block and construction of a new wing to house a performance/rehearsal area, studios, classroom and a library.

People wishing to find our more about the project or make a donation can visit the Nelson School of Music’s website, nsom.ac.nz

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