Old Town School of Folk Music Plans for Expansion
By Amy Perry in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 12, 2010 7:00PM
The Old Town School of Folk Music is planning an $18 million expansion across the street from the school at 4543 N. Lincoln Ave. The Old Town School purchased the vacant land to build an additional facility with classrooms, dance studios and a 133-seat performance venue. Groundbreaking is expected later this year after additional fund-raising.
Scott Hargadon, a past board chairman and current board member, told the Sun-Times that the new building would mark a dramatic turning point for the school. "The current main building used to be a library. To have music and dance classrooms built specifically to our needs with soundproofing and sizing would be a tremendous asset for the school," said Hargadon. Its primary home currently serves 7,000 students a week and still turns many students away. The theater seats 400 and held 160 concerts last year. Hargadon said the new performance venue will be a "very flexible performance space for concerts and dance" with removable seats.