President’s Message
This project will not only serve future generations of Colburn students but will also create a crossroads for the performing arts in LA for musicians and dancers, both established and aspiring.”
Sel Kardan
President and Chief Executive Officer
For more than seven decades, the Colburn School has delivered on a promise to provide the finest in music and dance training for young artists. Students go on to grace the world’s leading stages and become the appreciative audiences of tomorrow. And now—thanks to the generosity of Colburn supporters—they will develop and perform in a new home, the Colburn Center, that inspires their talent and honors their remarkable dedication.
Los Angeles’ own Frank Gehry has designed a campus worthy of the next generation of artists and Angelenos. This exciting new complex offers a glorious 1,000-seat performance hall-in-the-round, five spacious dance studios, one of which transforms into an intimate 100-seat performance space, and two beautiful gardens with outdoor stages and places for contemplation and camaraderie.
But this project is far from a luxury: the need is real. Colburn students train diligently with the goal of appearing in large ensembles and full dance productions throughout the year. But since no current stages on campus can support large ensembles or full dance productions, these appearances take place in theaters scattered across the city. This results in costly rental fees, inconsistent performance experiences, and a diminished ability to build an audience community. Like all of Colburn’s programs, the new hall will look beyond the walls of our school. Los Angeles is home to thousands of performing artists and hundreds of organizations devoted to dance and music. We look forward to welcoming these diverse and talented performers to the Colburn Center, where a special endowment will afford eligible groups free or reduced-fee access. Artists living in the beautiful tapestry that is Los Angeles will perform in a world-class setting with inspirational architecture and the best in stage production, acoustics, sight lines, and comfort.
Our vision also includes keeping tickets affordable to audiences across our vibrant region—something the Colburn School has done throughout its entire history.
Finally, our beautiful gardens and green spaces—designed by the award-winning firm OLIN—will welcome Colburn Center guests as well as Angelenos looking to be delighted by a day or evening downtown. The water-wise plantings, 100-seat performance plaza, and peaceful gardens will add much-needed green spaces to downtown Los Angeles.
We are honored to invite you to join us in Building Our Future. Our extraordinary new home gives us hope for the future. It is a lasting promise to upcoming generations of performing artists and the audiences that will lift them up.
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See image gallery of the campus expansion.
