Rockland Music Conservatory Opens New Home

The Rockland Conservatory of Music opened its new home in at 45 S. Main Street in Pearl River Oct. 31.

The conservatory will show it off today, with an open house from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The event will include an "instrument petting zoo" designed for young people to get the chane to hold instruments and play them while also listening to demonstrations by instructors and other musicians.

"It's also just to hand out brochures, let people know we're here," Conservatory Executive Director Marigene Kettler said. "We will take people on tours. I think people have watched it being built and wondered what it looks like inside. They cam come in, walk through and check it out."

The conservatory had been in Spring Valley for over 50 years and bought the building in Pearl River for approximately $500,000 in December. The renovation ran over by a few months, but was finally near enough completion to open last week. Some work is still ongoing. 

"The owner of Starr Press, Marino Nicholich, the original occupant of this space, told me his real passion is singing opera," Kettler said. "And he sang in the dark room every day, which is now one of our studios. We love that there is already music in these walls."

There are 13 practice studios surrounding Simons Hall, named for Conservatory founders Edward and Janet Simons, which holds 85 people.

"The best news we had was when we had our first concert," said Jeffrey P. Hall, the architect responsible for the renovation of the building. "The musicians declared the acoustics of Simons Hall to be perfect.

"It's always a nice surprise when it comes out better than you expected and I think a lot of positive reactions have been that it is a ery energizing place, which is what I hoped for."

The colors vary from one part of the building to the next, part of the overall musical scheme Hall had in mind.

"The design intent was to be musical," Hall said. "We have rhythms and repetitions and sort of jazzy moments.

"It's great. This space has so much natural light, which we were able to take advantage in every one of the rooms and the skylight. You can really operate here without lights on during the day. The architect is very happy."

According to Kettler, so are the instructors. One of the major improvements from the old building in Spring Valley is better sound proofing in each practice room.

"Whatever somebody was doing next door, you heard it all. Now you don't," Kettler said.

There are still some classical touches to the modern building, including the harpsichord right by the front door.

"You walk in and it looks very classical, but it is anything but," Kettler said.