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News Tue Aug 03 2010
Old Town School Celebrates Construction of New Facility
To celebrate the beginning of construction of the Old Town School of Folk Music's new 27,100-square-foot building, politicians and young musicians will don hard hats and shovels to break ground in a ceremony this Thursday, August 5 at 10am.
The expanded facility, which marks the School's first new construction in its 53-year history and its third facility in Chicago, will become the nation's largest community arts campus and expects to create 250 jobs at the School and in Lincoln Square.
The $18 million investment will also increase the School's ability to accommodate growing class sizes and high demands for expanding multicultural music and dance programs.
The ceremony will be joined by Alderman Gene Schulter; State Representatives John Fritchey, Greg Harris, and Mike Quigley; State Senators John Cullerton and Heather Steans; Old Town School Executive Director Bau Graves, and First Midwest Bank President and CEO Michael Scudder.
The Young Stracke All-Stars musicians, a group of students, ages 9 to 13, will be on site to perform "Bling Blang" by Woody Guthrie under the guidance of guitar instructor Jason McInnes. The event will take place across the street from Old Town School at 4543 N. Lincoln Ave.
The public is cordially invited to grab a shovel and dig in as well as join the Old Town School faculty the evening after for a festive sing-along, Brazillian dance lessons, a drum circle, and more outside the construction site on Friday, August 6, from 6 to 8pm.
The new environmentally sustainable building, designed by VOA Associates to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification standards, expects to open its doors in Fall 2011.
