{"id":1919,"date":"2015-11-05T14:05:50","date_gmt":"2015-11-05T22:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/copa\/2015\/11\/05\/catching-up-with-musco-center-for-the-arts-momentum-growing-as-center-approaches-grand-opening-in-march\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T22:44:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T22:44:35","slug":"catching-up-with-musco-center-for-the-arts-momentum-growing-as-center-approaches-grand-opening-in-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/copa\/2015\/11\/05\/catching-up-with-musco-center-for-the-arts-momentum-growing-as-center-approaches-grand-opening-in-march\/","title":{"rendered":"Catching Up with Musco Center for the Arts: Momentum Growing as Center Approaches Grand Opening in March"},"content":{"rendered":"

On March 19, 2016, Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco\u00a0Center for the Arts<\/a>\u00a0at Chapman University will celebrate its Grand Opening, ushering in a new era for the school\u2019s performing arts and unveiling a new cultural beacon for the region. The Grand Opening celebration will include performances by opera legends Pl\u00e1cido Domingo<\/a>,\u00a0Deborah Voigt<\/a> and Milena\u00a0Kitic<\/a>, an orchestra and chorus of more than 150 voices, and an array of distinguished artists and Chapman alumni, directed by\u00a0John\u00a0DeMain<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Musco Center for the Arts is named for Orange County philanthropists Paul and Marybelle Musco<\/a>, whose generous donation anchored and launched a multi-year drive to open the $78-million facility debt free.<\/p>\n

With 88,000 breathtaking square feet, Musco Center provides a state-of-the-art venue for students to hone their talents, discover their voices and visions, and prepare for rich and rewarding lives in the arts. Designed by award-winning architects Pfeiffer Partners<\/a>, with acoustics by world\u2011renowned Yasuhisa\u00a0Toyota of Nagata Acoustics<\/a>, the new Center boasts an intimate seating chamber with 1,044 seats on three levels and a full-scale stagehouse capable of grand spectacle or lush symphonic sound with its unique orchestral shell in place. When complete, Musco Center will serve as a dynamic focal point for campus life and the broader community, giving notice that world-class arts education and artistic achievement have found a new home in Southern California.<\/p>\n

\"Placido<\/a>
Opera legend Placido Domingo will headline Musco Center\u2019s Grand Opening celebration on March 19, along with fellow opera superstars Deborah Voigt and Milena Kitic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAt Musco Center, students and faculty will refine their art forms through hands-on experience in advanced facilities, and the surrounding community will experience spectacular performances and productions from the world\u2019s finest practitioners on a grand scale,\u201d said William\u00a0D. Hall, D.M., founding dean and artistic director of Musco Center and legacy music professor at Chapman University. \u201cHere, the arts will find a suitably stunning venue for achieving their highest form.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Hall, a key factor in setting the stage for the opening of Musco Center was naming Giulio Ongaro, Ph.D. as the new dean of the College of Performing Arts (CoPA)<\/a> last August. \u201cMusco Center offers an ideal environment for CoPA\u2019s distinguished faculty to prepare our students to realize their professional dreams and aspirations through real\u2011world production experience,\u201d said Ongaro.<\/p>\n

Chapman Chancellor Daniele Struppa also announced the appointment of Richard T. Bryant, a noted performing arts strategist, launch specialist and marketer, as interim executive director of Musco Center. \u201cChapman has already benefited from Richard Bryant\u2019s broad experience opening, managing, and marketing major performing arts centers around the United States,\u201d Chancellor Struppa said. \u201cHe joined Chapman last March to help us develop the Musco Center\u2019s launch and strategic operating plans. We are pleased he has agreed to expand and extend his leadership role.\u201d\u00a0 Bryant begins his role immediately.<\/p>\n

Following its Grand Opening on March 19, Musco Center will kick off its Opening & Preview Season with dazzling international virtuosos and ensembles that define excellence, as well as the best Chapman student performances. Opening & Preview Season performers represent a diverse range of world talents and experiences, including the following:<\/p>\n