NEW YORK - (Business Wire) The Orchestra of St. Luke
’s (OSL), America
’s foremost chamber orchestra, today announced that it will create a state-of-the-art rehearsal, recording and administrative facility for New York
’s musical community. The new resource center, which will be named The DiMenna Center for Classical Music in recognition of a $5 million gift from Joseph and Diana DiMenna, will form an anchor for classical music on Manhattan
’s west side.
“Diana and I are thrilled that our donation has helped establish a much needed creative base for New York’s talented musicians, singers and conductors and feel fortunate to support the creative process,” said Mr. DiMenna. “By offering the public greater access to music through open rehearsals and free chamber music readings, and broadening the St. Luke’s Arts Education Program for the City’s schools, teachers, and children, this center will ensure that classical music continues to flourish in New York.” Mr. DiMenna is a trustee of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
The center, which is projected to open in 2010, will occupy half of a six-story building, located at 450 West 37th Street, and will provide a creative home for Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble, and the St. Luke’s Arts Education Program, as well as other New York music organizations. The Baryshnikov Arts Center owns and occupies the remainder of the building.
Mikhail Baryshnikov said, “I am thrilled that the Orchestra of St. Luke's will be joining us in our Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. I can't think of a more ideal neighbor. Now, along with the programs and initiatives of BAC, the whole building will be transformed into a resource that will help relieve the shortage of adequate and affordable space for artists of all disciplines in the greater New York area. Ours is one of those rare unions that is perfectly complementary.”
The midtown Manhattan center addresses the urgent needs of small-to-mid-size organizations and groups challenged by increasingly prohibitive real estate costs while trying to maintain their work and visibility in New York City. Upon completion, the 20,000-plus square foot facility will enable classical musicians to work and strengthen their artistic identities and will include a large rehearsal hall with state-of-the-art recording and staging capabilities, a chamber orchestra rehearsal hall, four sectional rehearsal halls, three artist studios, a musician lounge and café, a music resource center and library, available musician storage, and OSL’s administrative offices.
“The creation of The DiMenna Music Center is the latest signature achievement of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s; an indication of the growing profile and status of the institution, and it is the generosity of Joe and Diana DiMenna that is making it possible,” said Norman Benzaquen, OSL Board Chairman, who continued, “Perhaps only this orchestra, with its unique history as a creative organization, and Marianne Lockwood as its president, could have made this center a reality.”
"The DiMenna Center for Classical Music will provide a new home for many of New York City's musicians, providing affordable, high-quality rehearsal space that is tailored to the needs of orchestral ensembles,” said Commissioner Kate D. Levin, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. “We applaud the realization of this project under the superb leadership of the Orchestra of St. Luke's – the result of years of planning among many of our City's music organizations. We also salute the private-sector funders who are supporting this important new resource for New York City's vibrant cultural community."
“Establishing a home for St. Luke’s is nothing less than the fulfillment of one of my greatest dreams,” said Marianne Lockwood, OSL President and Executive Director. “There has been an incredible groundswell of support for this project from all our communities – funders and supporters, fellow orchestras and ensembles, and of course The City of New York – and for this I am so very grateful.”
Consultants on the project include architect Hugh Hardy of H3, acoustician Larry Kierkegaard of Kierkegaard & Associates, and Auerbach Pollock Friedlander Performing Arts/Media Facilities Planning and Design. Jonathan Rose of Jonathan Rose Companies is the chief advisor on the project. Ben Needell of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is providing pro bono legal counsel.
The Fund for the Future
The Orchestra of St. Luke’s simultaneously announced that it has established The Fund for the Future, a capital and endowment campaign for the purchase and renovation of the new facility and continuing support for OSL’s programs and operations.
Of the $50 million goal, $35 million will go towards purchasing, renovating, and providing an operating endowment for The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, and $15 million will provide an endowment for OSL’s programs and operations. The endowment comprises three funds: general operating, arts education, and artistic initiatives. It is estimated that the campaign will be completed by 2013. In addition to the leadership provided by the DiMennas, major support has been pledged by OSL trustee Victor Elmaleh. Initial project support has been provided by the Mellon and Peter Jay Sharp Foundations and OSL anticipates receiving major support from the City of New York and other private and public philanthropies.
Endowment support for each of the three funds includes major gifts from Virginia James, Richard Gilder, and OSL trustees Norman Benzaquen, Victor Elmaleh, and John Tamagni. Institutional support has been committed by the Bay and Paul Foundation, the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Fan Fox and Leslie Samuels Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The DiMenna Foundation
The DiMenna Foundation supports organizations in the arts, education and for the development of children. The Foundation has been a major supporter of the Harlem Children’s Zone, College Summit, the New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Robin Hood Foundation, among others. Diana DiMenna serves as a member of the Museum Advisory Committee at the American Museum of Natural History and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Isamu Noguchi Museum. Joseph A. DiMenna serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Harlem Children’s Zone, The New-York Historical Society and Fairfield University. In addition, Mr. DiMenna was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2002 by the National Foundation for the Teaching of Entrepreneurship, an organization that promotes the teaching of business principles to students.
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
The 2007-2008 season marks the 33rd year of America’s foremost chamber orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. This unique musical organization comprises the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble, and the St. Luke’s Arts Education Program. St. Luke’s currently performs approximately 100 orchestral, chamber, and educational concerts throughout New York each year, all showcasing the collaborative spirit that has garnered consistent critical acclaim for vibrant music-making of the highest order.
For the St. Luke's calendar of events, tickets, and more information, visit: www.OSLmusic.org
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