New MacPhail space is music to students' ears

When Dan Bruins, 18, of Rosemount visited Luther College and the music department found out he played the viola, they asked him to do an impromptu audition and then offered him a scholarship on the spot. To prepare for next year, Bruins spent the summer practicing at the MacPhail Center for Music's new Apple Valley facility.

He used to take lessons through MacPhail in an elementary classroom at Paideia Academy, where he said he often had to contend with artwork hanging from the ceilings. "We had to find a certain spot in the classroom where I wasn't looking at a giant paper snowflake in my face," he said. "This is very nice," he said of the new facility.

MacPhail president Paul Babcock said MacPhail started holding classes at Paideia Academy four years ago in response to requests for more arts opportunities in the suburbs. The new MacPhail location, on the corner of Cedar and 147th Street in Apple Valley, opened in May and houses nine instructional classrooms.

"It's really helped us to not be in that school building," said Babcock. "We were a little bit hidden. It's increased our visibility a lot."

Babcock said MacPhail gutted the space at its new location and designed and rebuilt it with attention to acoustics and sound attenuation.

Cello instructor Tom Austin of Minneapolis appreciates the thick doors, which help muffle sound. "They did a good job designing things," he said. His student, cello player Natalie Kogan-White, 12, of Burnsville, said she likes the lighting and high ceilings.

Violin instructor Kelly Lehr of Edina appreciates having a classroom where she can store things. "The room is nice and resonant," she said.

Her mother, Christy Treat, said there used to be children running in the hallways and that she appreciates the lack of distractions. "We get our own space," she said. "We can't damage anything. I think it's a lot better here."

"A dedicated space speaks to professionalism and long-term commitment," said flute instructor Amy Morris of Richfield. "We like it a lot," she said.

She said the old location "was a really good situation to get things started. It just wasn't as inviting."

Justin Hartke, the Apple Valley site coordinator, said the new site has encouraged instructors to hold more studio and all-school recitals, which are open to the public, and has enabled MacPhail to expand offerings for early childhood education.

"MacPhail has always drawn families from around the area for early childhood music," he said. "Now that we have the facilities that are more on par with what we have in Minneapolis, it's more exciting for those families to get involved down here."

"The opportunity to have our own space and schedule it at will is fantastic for us," he said.