Schenectady County Community College’s (SCCC) prestigious music program will soon have a new state-of-the-art building to call home.
The $3.9 million, 12,600-square-foot space will allow even more students – studying to become performers, educators and music industry professionals – to take classes in the nationally-accredited music program, ushering in a new era for music education at SCCC. The project is equally funded by both the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) and Schenectady County.
College and Schenectady County officials, joined by students, faculty, dignitaries and friends of SCCC, held an unveiling ceremony for the new music building on Thursday, April 28, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., in the Van Curler Room at SCCC.
The building will adjoin the current music wing of the Begley Building. The first floor will house teaching studios, an industry-standard live recording studio, two specialized music classrooms, faculty offices, and a student lounge. The second floor will include a recording studio with a control room, recital space, teaching studios, and faculty offices. Eight additional practice rooms and a beautiful facade of large windows complete the new building.
“The announcement of our new music building today is the result of college and county leadership working together for our community,” said Denise Murphy McGraw, Chair of SCCC’s Board of Trustees. “In these tough economic times, we worked tirelessly to secure the necessary funding to ensure a world-class facility for our institution.”
“Schenectady County is proud to support our Community College and the expansion of the renowned music program,” said Judy Dagostino, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. “This expansion is another example of how our continued cooperation will allow SCCC to grow and benefit all of our students and the entire Schenectady County community.”
“This magnificent and attractive new building will give one of our signature programs the modern space it deserves,” said Dr. Quintin B. Bullock, President of SCCC. “Contemporary studios and performance areas with superb acoustics will allow music students hands-on, professional training and further our track record of helping students find jobs in the industry and transfer to top four-year music programs.”
The new recording studio will allow the College to revamp the Music/Business A.A.S. program to include a recording and music technology focus. Students will gain hands-on experience in a true recording environment with a post-production studio. In addition to Music/Business, SCCC offers the Performing Arts-Music A.S. degree and a Music certificate program. SCCC is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, a rare accomplishment for a two-year college.
Music alumni have transferred to such prestigious institutions as the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory, the Crane School at SUNY Potsdam and the Berklee College of Music. Alumni work as performing musicians, educators and industry professionals in the Capital Region and throughout the United States.
“The SCCC music faculty are thrilled with the plans for the wonderful expansion to our facilities. The new building addition will permit us to broaden our curriculum offerings, provide much-needed teaching and practice spaces, and be a beautiful aesthetic facility for our program,” said Dr. William Meckley, Professor and Chair of the Music Department. “We are very grateful for the support of our county and state sponsors who are making this project possible. We are extremely thankful for the efforts of President Bullock and the SCCC Trustees and administration who have worked unflaggingly to bring this new facility to our campus.”
Construction of the new Music Building will commence in late summer and take 12-18 months to complete.
SCCC began offering the Performing Arts-Music A.S. degree program in Fall 1976. The first music graduates earned their degrees in May 1978. The program expanded in Fall 1983 with the addition of the Music/Business A.A.S. degree with students first graduating from that program in May 1985. The College then added the Music Certificate program in Fall 1989, with the first graduates of the program in May 1990. Currently there are 165 students enrolled in the Performing Arts-Music, Music/Business and Music certificate programs.
One of the 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, the nation’s largest comprehensive system of higher education, Schenectady County Community College in upstate New York enrolls over 6,000 students. SCCC offers 45 career and transfer degree and certificate programs. The College opened its doors for classes in 1969 and continues to provide affordable comprehensive higher education and adult educational opportunities in response to local educational needs.
Contact:
Heather Meaney (518) 381-1250
Darren Johnson (518) 381-1320