03.31.04
Committee commences music building fund-raiser
by Amanda Dumond of the Aroostook Republican

CARIBOU -- The project to raise $2.4 million for a new music building is under way and organizers are optimistic the money can be raised in three years. They also hope to have the building erected by 2007.

Because of a severe shortage in space in the Caribou Performing Arts Center (CPAC) and Caribou High School, where the strings group practices in the athletic training room and the band rehearses in a room full of filing cabinets and equipment, an organizing committee comprised solely of students envisioned a new building that would alleviate the problem.

Brandon Bouchard, chairman and spokesman for the Caribou High School Music Building Fund, updated school faculty and administration on the progress of the student initiative last Thursday. Also joining the group were representatives from the the architectural firm Harriman Associates, which also designed the Caribou Performing Arts Center.

"They have an interest in supporting us whether or not they are chosen to do the project," Bouchard, a 2003 graduate and freshman at Bowdoin College, said.

To date, the group of high school and college students have collected a little more than $3,000, with the money coming primarily from community members. Word of the project has spread, however. Bouchard noted that a woman in Farmington donated $1,500 to the cause.

"Once we get one big donation of $50,000 or $100,000, this will tell the people that we are serious about this," he said. "Then I think [the donations] will start coming in."

The committee also has established a pledge system to allow people to donate money, especially for larger contributions, over a period of time.

Senator Susan Collins serves as an honorary committee member, something Bouchard says shows people the group is indeed serious about their initiative.

Plans also have solidified concerning the design and use of the proposed music building.

The 13,000 square foot music building will be located next to the CPAC and extend into the parking lot. The new structure will provide more space for both the music and performing arts departments, freeing up space for the center, while creating another building with seven sound-proof practice rooms and classroom that will be equipped with music technology. This technology will allow students to compose their own music. The new building will also house a band and choral room that seats 100 each as well as a storage area, larger offices for the music instructors, locker rooms with the lockers for students to safely store their instruments.

The existing CPAC parking lot will be moved closer to the softball field, and more spaces will be available then currently exist. The CPAC would then have the space to convert the band room into a "green room" and double doors would connect the room to the stage. Dressing rooms would be created where existing office space is located.

Bouchard and his committee also have approached the city council, the Rotary Club, and various local businessmen with their proposal and are "pursuing options at the state level" as well.

Even before presenting to the faculty a community subcommittee was formed to give the fund advice.

Superintendent Frank McElwain is pleased with the student committee's efforts.

"They took the ball and ran with it," he said. "I'm amazed by the ongoing enthusiasm to go after donors."

For now McElwain said he'll stay in the background serving as an advisor, but said that he and the committee would work together later on in the process to make their ideas work with the school system's own goals.

The committee is determined to push forward and make the music building a reality, and no matter what transpires, the group has gained important life experiences in the process.

"Even though we never will practice in these rooms, we're sticking with it. We started out not knowing what to expect. It was a dream, and now we know this will be built someday," Bouchard said. "We've grown a lot. It's not every day that students do a $2.4 million capital campaign."

Those who wish to make a donation can make checks payable to the "CHS Music Building Fund", 628 Main Street, Caribou, Maine 04736. For more information, contact the high school at (207) 493-4260 or Brandon Bouchard at (207) 227-6611 or bbouchar@bowdoin.edu.