Marlboro Music and Marlboro College Build on Partnership

Christopher Serkin, chair and president of Marlboro Music, Kevin Quigley, president of Marlboro College, and Richard Saudek, chair of the College board of trustees, announced today that the boards of trustees of Marlboro Music and Marlboro College have approved a new 99-year lease arrangement—and a major building project on the college campus—initiating an exciting new chapter in the historic relationship between these two prominent institutions.

Since its founding in 1951, the Marlboro Music School and Festival has held its world-acclaimed summer program for leadership training in music on the leased campus of Marlboro College, a progressive liberal arts institution devoted to intensive, independent learning in a collaborative and self-governing community. Over the past seven decades, this dynamic relationship has enriched the southern Vermont region and provided a model for how non-profit organizations can work together to achieve mutual goals in cost-effective ways.

“This remarkable partnership is built upon a shared commitment to innovative educational approaches and close collaboration between teacher and student,” said President Quigley. “The expanded partnership and new buildings come at a crucial time for the college and speak to the value of community collaborations at every level.”

In May, 2019, the music school and college expect to break ground on a transformative collaborative project to construct two new buildings on the campus, to be owned by the college and used by both the college and the music school. The Jerome and Celia Reich Building and a new residence hall are being designed by the award-winning, Minnesota-based architects Joan Soranno and John Cook, at HGA. The Reich Building will house a music library as well as offices, social spaces and chamber music rehearsal studios for the music school that the college will use as classrooms throughout the school year. Similarly, the residence hall will house young musicians each summer and college students from September through May.

“Both buildings will generate excitement within our communities and will command attention nationally,” said Philip Maneval, manager of Marlboro Music. “Our ultimate goal is that these buildings will advance our organizations’ respective missions for many decades to come, while providing a powerful example for reimagining the Vermont country aesthetic that we all love, and which makes Potash Hill such a unique and compelling place to study, whether music or the liberal arts.”

This $12.7 million project was initiated by a major bequest from the estate of Jerome and Celia Reich; generous support by Dunard Fund USA; donations from trustees, friends, and donors of Marlboro Music; and additional grants and contributions to Marlboro Music and Marlboro College still to be raised. Completion of the project is expected by June, 2021—in conjunction with the 70th Anniversary celebration of Marlboro Music and the 75th Anniversary of Marlboro College.

The new, 99-year lease that underlies this project and collaboration ensures that, for generations to come, Marlboro Music will remain on the beautiful 500-acre campus that has been its only home. It also commits the College and the Music School to explore new programs of mutual benefit, such as internships for Marlboro students during the summer season and Marlboro Music artists-in-residence at the college.The two institutions agreed to emphasize their relationship on their websites and in their communications materials.

“Having Marlboro Music on our campus for the past sixty-eight years has been a source of great pride,” said Quigley. “We admire their dedication, teaching and discipline in developing many of the world’s greatest musicians and we enjoy their wonderful performances during the summer. We are delighted to have taken these steps to strengthen our relationship with them.”