The University received a $2 million boost in funding to rebuild and expand the music school, propelling the project closer to the $7.6 million in private donations needed to launch the $15.2 million project, University President Dave Frohnmayer announced Thursday.
The music school was built in 1921 with space for 300 students, which is not enough space for the school’s current
enrollment, School of Music Dean Brad Foley said.
“The bottom line is that this school facility was designed to house about half as many students as have classes there,”
Foley said.
The renovation will increase the building’s space by 50 percent to accommodate the 500 music majors and 4,000 non-music majors attending classes there, according to a University press release.
“With the new building, we’ll have a facility that will be commensurate with the talent of our students and our faculty,” said music school Director of Development DeNel Stoltz, noting the school hasn’t been able to compete as well because of a “lack of facilities.”
Stoltz said the project is also important because of the impact the music school has on the state.
“About one-fourth of music teachers in this state are our alumni,” she said.
The project will also add a new entrance on East 18th Avenue, nearly double the number of student practice rooms, provide new acoustically isolated teaching studios and add space for offices, rehearsals and instrument storage.
The recent $2 million donation came from Business Wire CEO Lorry Lokey, who grew up in Portland. Lokey donates money to support higher education because “it’s the best investment one can make to improve the lives of individuals and society,” according to the University press release.
“At Oregon, music is a major
educational piece,” Lokey said
in the release. “Music is like
food. You gotta have it. It feeds
the soul.”
Foley said Lokey’s donation is the largest received by the music school so far. The second largest was a
$1 million gift from an unidentified donor, he said.
As a major donor, Lokey has the opportunity to name one of several spaces in the building, such as a historic courtyard or a choral
rehearsal space.
The school needs $7.6 million in private donations to receive a matching amount in state bonds, according to the press release.
Foley said the school had raised $1 million for the project, which
began in 1999, when he came to the University in 2002. He said fundraising has made great strides over the past year.
“It seems like things are moving along really well and momentum is picking up,” Foley said. “We’re really hopeful this project may take place sooner rather than later.”

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