It has been a dream years in the making and planning, and as the academic year begins the construction sequence will soon be underway. The final result: one of the finest university music facilities in the Commonwealth, if not the nation, in the heart of campus at Longwood, scheduled to open in spring 2027.
Virginia’s new state budget includes more than $62 million to move forward with a project to replace Wygal Hall with a new state-of-the-art home for music and music education at Longwood that will be a priceless resource for campus and the surrounding region.
Longwood has the longest history of music education of any Virginia public institution, with a strong emphasis on music instruction dating back to its founding in 1839.
It will be accessible easily from Brock Commons and from Main Street and become a stunning showcase for the dozens of concerts and performances that make up a central part of our curriculum.
Dr. Lisa Kinzer, chair of the music department during the planning phase for the new facility Tweet This
In addition to providing a home for this historic program, the building will also anchor a handsome Main Street gateway to campus, which will soon open elegantly to town with two inviting buildings that will both face and serve the public – the new Joan Perry Brock Convocation Center, scheduled to open in 2023, and the music building scheduled to open in early 2027.
Construction is planned to begin this fall on the renovated and expanded building on Fourth Street in downtown Farmville that will be the new home of Longwood’s facilities and maintenance operation. This relocation will make way for construction of the music facility starting in summer 2024.
The music building will have classrooms, recital rooms, and a 500-seat performance space that will make it a regional center of music education and performance – and an inspiring academic home for the more than 600 students taught annually in Wygal, which was built more than 50 years ago.
The new building will complement and reinforce the engaging, traditional architecture of central campus, while providing a beautiful home for a music program that includes three voice ensembles, five instrumental performance groups, the Longwood Center for Community Music and other growing resources for students and community members.
“The building is conceived as a bridge between the community and campus,” said Dr. Lisa Kinzer, chair of the music department during the planning phase for the new facility. “It will be accessible easily from Brock Commons and from Main Street and become a stunning showcase for the dozens of concerts and performances that make up a central part of our curriculum. We are so excited to see the funding approved and can’t wait for it to begin to take shape in the coming years.”
Performance is central to the development of young musicians, and this space will include a mid-sized space that will showcase the amount of talent in our students and faculty while providing another front door for our campus along Main Street.
Dr. Roger Byrne, dean of the Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences Tweet This
Music and music education were central to Longwood’s curriculum and extracurricular life from its earliest years, and the strength of the program has continued to grow. The first formal music major graduated in 1930. Longwood has a long track record of placing music education graduates in schools where they have inspired countless thousands of Virginia schoolchildren to become musicians. Graduates of the music program have a 90 percent job-placement rate.
“Music is one of our signature departments at Longwood, and consistently produces strong graduates who go onto wonderful careers in the field,” said Dr. Roger Byrne, dean of the Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences, which houses the music department. “Performance is central to the development of young musicians, and this space will include a mid-sized space that will showcase the amount of talent in our students and faculty while providing another front door for our campus along Main Street.”
The university’s music department has expanded over the last two decades, with an expansion of performances and ensembles, but also statewide partnerships that have built strong bonds with arts lovers in the community. The Richmond Symphony plays an annual concert at Longwood that often features the Camerata Singers, the university’s premier vocal ensemble, and the Longwood Center for Community Music engages young people in vocal, piano, and string instrument instruction.
It is a delight to see the Commonwealth’s strong support, and to see the work of so many on this project beginning to come to fruition. This important new facility will do great good for generations to come.
President W. Taylor Reveley IV Tweet This
Detailed architectural work is underway and plans will soon be sent to the state for approval.
“Music was one of the original subjects taught here after our founding in 1839.” President W. Taylor Reveley IV said. “It is a delight to see the Commonwealth’s strong support, and to see the work of so many on this project beginning to come to fruition. This important new facility will do great good for generations to come.”
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