Curtis Opens Lenfest Hall
Hi-tech performance space and more at new facility
Curtis Institute of Music's Lenfest Hall
On September 6, the Curtis Institute of Music opened Lenfest Hall, the first major expansion of its campus in more than 20 years. To relieve scheduling pressures on the school’s historic buildings, which remain in active use, Curtis hired Philadelphia architects Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates to design a living and learning space that reflects the school’s 87-year-old educational mission while preparing students for the challenges of musical careers in the 21st century. “This is transformational for Curtis,” said Curtis board chairman H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest in a press release. “Our goals go beyond achieving musical virtuosity. We hope the hall will become an incubator for new ideas. Students will learn to collaborate in new ways as they think about attracting and engaging new audiences. They will have the benefit of 21st-century technology as they develop the skills essential for success in an evolving musical environment.”
Lenfest Hall adds 105,000 square feet of space, doubling the size of a campus that serves 166 students. Key features of the new building include a 3,200-square-foot rehearsal hall that can accommodate a full orchestra for the largest-scale core repertoire; state-of-the-art technology, including full-building WiFi, video and audio recording studios, and recording capabilities in all teaching studios; 32 additional rooms for practicing, teaching, and chamber music rehearsal; and residences for more than 80 students, nearly half the student body.
“This is much more than a new building—it is a place for students to develop exceptional careers,” said Curtis President and violist Roberto Díaz. “Curtis owes so much to the vision and leadership of Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest, who motivated over 60 donors to support the Lenfest Hall challenge grant. We are deeply grateful to everyone who made Lenfest Hall a reality.”
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