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In its March 6 edition, the Ventura County Star led its regional news coverage with about the Fritz B. Burns Foundation’s $8.5 million grant for the construction of the College’s forthcoming lecture and concert building, St. Cecilia Hall. “The new building,” writes Jean Cowden Moore “will house the concert hall, theatrical lighting and a discussion room where people can gather after events and for informal talks.”

The story goes on to quote 91����’s choir director, Daniel Grimm (’76), who noted that the construction of St. Cecilia Hall should greatly simplify — and improve — the College’s musical and theatrical productions. “It will make putting on productions, even concerts, easier,” said Mr. Grimm. “We’ll have a place to rehearse, a place to build sets.” Because the College will no longer need to host performances in its dining hall, St. Joseph Commons, it will also be able to stage multiple performances of the same production. “Now we have one performance, and it’s over,” remarked Mr. Grimm. “This will allow us to accommodate more of the community.”

Echoing Mr. Grimm’s applause was sophomore Giorgio Navarini (’17), who told Ms. Moore that, “Right now,” musical performances at the College are, “kind of a fight between the performers and the building … because the building doesn’t help in any way.” St. Cecilia Hall, by comparison, with its concert-hall acoustics, theatrical lighting, and 580-person stadium seating, will offer an ideal setting for lectures and concerts.

Construction of the building is set to begin this summer, and St. Cecilia Hall should be completed and ready for use at in the spring of 2017. The Ventura County Star’s is available via the newspaper’s website.