Zankel: A love story
The public receives the multi-million dollar music building with open arms
Kristin Travagline
Issue date: 2/26/10 Section: Cover Story
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The building is 54,000 square-feet and cost $32.5 million to build. The funding came from the late Arthur Zankel, a Skidmore trustee who donated $46 million to the college, $15 million being allocated to the music center. Parents, alumni and various donors provided additional financial support.
Several events have already been held in Zankel. The opening performance featured Carnegie Hall Premieres on Feb. 5. A senior student flute recital featuring Rebecca Rawling was held on Feb. 20. A Brazilian Guitar Quartet performed on Feb. 21. The Klezmatics also performed on Feb. 25.
Harmony for Haiti was the first student-directed performance in Zankel. It was held on Feb. 11 and organized by Anni Satinove '11. "The new space in Zankel is absolutely amazing, I was really happy to see how many students came out for the show. I think it was a great reason to have the first student concert there and I thought it was really successful," Satinove said.
More events are planned for the near future. "It's going to be a very busy semester for concerts," said music professor Gordon Thompson. The Ying Quartet is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. on Feb. 27 as part of the Skidmore College String Festival. General admission is $12, $10 for senior citizens and $3 for students and faculty. Student ensembles will also perform with the Ying Quartet at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 28.
The Skidmore College Orchestra will be performing at 8 p.m. on March 6 with a guest director, Charles Schneider. Schneider has conducted the Catskill Symphony Orchestra and the Utica Symphony Orchestra. He was the founding music director of the Glimmerglass Opera and co-founder of the Catskill Conservatory of Music.
The Skidmore Orchestra will be performing Aaron Copland's piece "Lincoln Portrait." Quotations from President Abraham Lincoln, spoken by student narrators, are incorporated into the piece.
For their First Year Experience summer assignment, the members of the class of 2013 watched a DVD from the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company that examines the life of Lincoln through choreography. They also read "Our Lincoln: New Perspectives on Lincoln and His World," edited by Columbia University historian Eric Foner.
Aside from performances, Zankel has been put to the test by classes. Sophomore music major Lauren Gradowski is taking four classes in Zankel. "I use the practice rooms quite frequently and they're very nice. They have windows in them, which is a new feature. They're a little more spacious. They feel more open. And, there are a lot more of them than there used to be. There's at least double. It feels a little more professional. It feels like the first step in really building the music program up from what it is now," Gradowski said.
Many of the practice rooms have pianos in them, but the music department is still acquiring pianos to fill the rest. Every practice room is soundproof. The practice rooms are primarily intended for the use of students who are enrolled in music courses. "There are way more students than music majors and minors however. That includes the 200 students who take private lessons, the roughly 100 students who are involved in an instrumental ensemble, the 100 members of the chorus, etc," said music department chairman, professor Thomas Denny.
Jaruda Ithisuphalap '13 is not a music major but takes two classes in Zankel. "I feel lucky to use the new music building. It lets you take a break from the academic atmosphere," Ithisuphalap said.
Both students and faculty are still amazed by the new technology in Zankel. "One of the fabulous things about the building is that there are three simulcast stations in the building. There are 600 seats and we can accommodate several 100 more though the technology," McGhee said.
Elise Babigian '12 works as a technical assistant in Zankel. "The technology is top notch. If you press one button you can turn on everything in the theater," Babigian said.
Aside from the technology, the increase in space is still appreciated. "I know this sounds mundane, but we went from the oldest, most decrepit classrooms on campus to the newest and most high-tech. Everyone looks at the concert hall, it's just fabulous, but for me the day-to-day experience for the students and teachers in this building, the classrooms are the great addition," Thompson said.
But, as classes take place, adjustments are still being made to Zankel. "In some ways the building isn't completely done because they're still working out some of the details. There are still things like getting door locks right and getting rooms settled away. When there's a new building there's always things to tweak and get ready, so it will be an ongoing process," Thompson said.
The effects of the new Zankel building are already being seen on campus. "The facilities have already changed how students are able to interact and learn in the classroom. There's just so much that we are able to do now. When you've got a room that's designed for teaching music, suddenly things go smoothly. You just want to be able to go in and concentrate on the material you're teaching," Thompson said.
Plans for the future of Zankel are already being considered. "One thing we're going to have to pay attention to, I think we've already seen, is that with improved facilities more students want to take music classes. We've got to watch how big our classes get, how many instructors we have and what kinds of classes we offer," Thompson said. This semester Thompson expanded his class from 30 to 40 students because of the increased amount of space.
McGhee hopes that eventually Zankel will allow the music department to collaborate with other areas of the college. The stage floor is designed in a way that dancers can use it. Collaboration with the art department might also be possible.
Thompson speculates that in the next few years the college will host more high-profile concerts. "We're really going to have to change how we think about concerts. In fact, that's already started," Thompson said.
The Skidmore Community Chorus spring concert on May 1 will be the final concert of the semester in the hall. During this concert the Skidmore Community Chorus will collaborate with the Saratoga Children's Chorus and the Battenkill Chorale.
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