The Billman Music Pavilion
Billman Music Pavilion News
Some of the stories we followed during the building of the MSU Billman Music Pavilion.
Seeing gifts come to life
Joe Maguire’s philosophy is to support what you love, and he loves jazz.
The J.P. Maguire Gallery in Murray Hall – the section of the new space for the principal use of jazz in the College of Music – is a unique feature as the only balcony space to take in performances in the building...read more
Music Alumna helps build music dream home
Teaching experiences and a love of MSU inspire a gift to benefit students.
A love for MSU, coupled with knowledge and experience as a music educator, led Marty Scharchburg to give a generous gift to name the Jazz Library in the new Billman Music Pavilion...read more.
Accompanying the college into its next phase
Alumna lends her support to Billman Music Pavilion.
As a pianist, educator, higher ed administrator, and leader, Dr. Barbara Dixon is a collaborator. Now, she has become a collaborator and a leader in the College of Music Billman Music Pavilion project...read more.
Schalon assures the drumbeat will play on
A life of giving leads to significant support for percussion at MSU.
Longtime MSU donor and College of Music supporter, the late Marcie Schalon, provided a $500,000 gift for the Billman Music Pavilion. She earmarked it for the Percussion Rehearsal Hall which will be named in her honor...read more
Advancing the Soul of MSU
$1.5 million gift names Murray Hall and the Murray Family Terrace.
Craig and Lisa Murray have established a generous major gift allocating a total of $2.1M for the Billman Music Pavilion, Athletics and the College of Communication Arts and Sciences through a charitable lead annuity trust....read more
A gift to honor a teacher, friend and mentor
Buckley inspired to support Billman Music Pavilion.
Rhonda Buckley knows that the College of Music has been educating decades of successful music educators and performers in what is now an outdated facility. So when asked if she would make a gift commitment in support of the Billman Music Pavilion, there was no hesitation....read more
Construction of Music Pavilion becomes a reality
Celebration event signals start of long-awaited addition and renovations.
Michigan State University has begun the construction process for a 37,000-square-foot Music Pavilion that will expand the Music Building on the university’s north campus....read more
A building reflecting who we are
Continuous growth inspires Hari Kern to join Music Pavilion campaign.
For nearly 25 years, Hari Kern has witnessed the momentum building in the Michigan State University College of Music. To continue that, she is helping to build a new facility through a significant gift to fund a chamber practice room....read more
A dream realized
Former director joins the charge toward better Music facilities.
Ken Bloomquist has thought about the facilities at the Michigan State University College of Music for a long time, and his perspective on them is unique compared to most people. “It is a primary need,” he says....read more
Priests endorse Music Pavilion with creative giving vehicle
IRA Charitable Rollover proves helpful tool.
Helen and Ron Priest are supporting the new Music Pavilion project by utilizing the IRA Charitable Rollover provision as a helpful tool to allow them to make a greater impact on the student experience during their lifetime...read more
Providing spaces for performance and practice
Alumni finding ways to help students prepare for their careers.
One of the primary goals of the College of Music at Michigan State University is to supply music students with a variety of opportunities, and the physical spaces that those opportunities happen are a critical part of the student experience. Luckily for College of Music students, there are people like Philippa and Chuck Webb who recognize the need and find ways to help, like a new performance venue and support for the Music Pavilion....read more
Percussion studio headed for major renovation
Changes will align facilities with the talent of faculty and students.
A major improvement of the percussion studio at the MSU College of Music will transform the lives of current and future percussion students by providing sophisticated, state-of-the-art facilities to perform, rehearse and study....read more
National Leadership Council gets behind student-centered Pavilion project
As a group, their focus on student needs remains strong.
The College of Music National Leadership Council has been a strong partner in developing the national and international excellence of the College. Realizing the pressing need to create new music facilities adjacent to the Music Building that has remained largely unchanged since 1939, members are providing critical funding for the new Music Pavilion project....read more
$1m Gift from Alumna Supports Music Pavilion
Artist and long time supporter of MSU brings commitment to space for vocal arts and student recitals.
Michigan State University’s College of Music has received a $1 million gift commitment from Selma Hollander, an alumna and former instructor in the College of Arts and Letters, to support a space for vocal music and student recitals....read more
$1m Gift Supports Expansion of MSU Music Facilities
Name bearers of the Music Building’s recital hall to support Music Pavilion project.
A $1 million gift from alumni Byron and Dolores (Dee) Cook will help build a Music Pavilion for Michigan State University’s College of Music. Their gift helped launch the project, which aims to add 37,000 square feet of rehearsal, practice and performance space and to renovate another 8,500 square feet in the 1940s era Music Building and its neighboring Music Practice Building....read more
Major Investment Propels Music Facilities
Billman gift leads to announcement of expansion and renovation of the MSU Music Building.
MSU alumnus James Billman, Jr. served as the impetus of the effort with a lead gift designated for an expansion to and refurbishment of the original 1939 Music Building. Alumni Byron and Dolores Cook and the late Ruth Charles joined Dr. Billman with major support of their own, setting the project in motion....read more
An In-depth Look at the Music Pavilion
The “Art & Science” of transforming MSU’s College of Music facilities.
Propelled by donor support, the Michigan State University College of Music facilities will soon be transformed with new and renovated space that will be finely tuned with the art and science of sound....read more
Architectural digital renderings illustrate transformation
See the planned new Music Pavilion building expansion and renovations in pictures.
Private contributions are helping to make this long-time sought after dream a reality as planning moves forward. Beautifully detailed renderings from the project architects provide the clearest picture yet of what this will mean for this student-focused initiative....read more
