Facelift proposed for MSU's Reynolds Recital Hall

11/02/2001 BOZEMAN --       Reynolds Recital Hall on the campus of Montana State University boasts some of the best acoustics in the West. But no one knows it's there.

      "The acoustics are virtually perfect," said Greg Young, head of MSU's department of music.

      This small performance hall of 253 seats located in Howard Hall has no formal entry or exterior signage to announce its location. People just need to know it's there.

      "As part of our university mission, we want to make the facility accessible to the public so they can come and enjoy the performances," said Young.

      "We've polled students from around campus and have asked them where Reynolds Recital Hall is and very few of them know," said Claire Sands Baker, development officer for the College of Arts and Architecture.

      To solve the problem of accessibility and visibility, the Department of Music at MSU has launched a $500,000 fund raising project that will add a formal entry, complete with a dramatically lighted and colorful vestibule entry including a garden forecourt, a refinished lobby and reception area and programmable performance announcement signage. MSU architecture professor Peter Kommers, winner of the 1975 Rome Prize for Architecture, created the design.

      The original design for the Recital Hall included an entry, but budget constraints forced its elimination 25 years ago.

      With nearly 150 performances a year, the Recital Hall has seen many distinguished performers grace its stage not to mention countless classes and lectures. One of those performers is famed classical guitarist Christopher Parkening. He has taught his master class in the hall for over two decades and notes that the hall is especially fine for the sound of classical guitar.

      The Reynolds Recital Hall was named for the former head of the MSU music department and violin professor, Creech Reynolds.

      For more information contact the Claire Sands Baker at 994-7414.

Send questions or comments to Brenda McDonald: bmcdonal@montana.edu. Or you can send letters to Brenda McDonald, MSU Communications Services, 416 Culbertson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717.

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