Rider University is the recipient of a $95,000 grant from The Presser Foundation to support the renovation and transformation of a rehearsal room in the Fine Arts Building into a multi-use space for teaching, choral and chamber music rehearsals, and recital presentations.
The university intends to name the renovated space The Presser Foundation Recital Hall.
As part of the grant, the space will include technology for audio recording and live streaming, providing an opportunity for audiences to enjoy student recitals and performances virtually. Plans also call for significant adjustments to the acoustics of the room to ensure the sound quality needed for piano and voice recitals.
“Recitals are a key outcome for students in the Westminster Choir College programs and an essential experience for any student studying music,” said Jason Vodicka, associate dean of Rider’s College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of music education at Westminster Choir College. “The renovation of the room will also enhance the classroom experience for musical theatre and music production programs and provide much needed rehearsal space.”
The renovation will add a third performance space in the Fine Arts Building, which already includes the Yvonne Theater and Spitz Theater. The university holds more than 30 student recitals each year and has more than 18 hours of choral rehearsals per week, as well as additional faculty and guest artist performances throughout the semester.
The work is anticipated to be completed by the fall semester.
“We are grateful to The Presser Foundation for their continued support of the enhancement of our programs,” Vodicka said.
The Presser Foundation has a long history of supporting music education at Rider University. The Fine Arts Building contains the Presser Voice Lab and The Presser Foundation Bell Choir Rehearsal Room, and one Rider music student is selected each year to be a Presser Scholar, an honor that comes with a monetary award.
The Presser Foundation provides philanthropic support of the musical arts in their many dimensions and manifestations, while striving to serve a broad and diverse community of musicians, educators and music lovers.
