Hudson City Schools has not set a fundraising deadline or construction schedule for the second phase of its $5.5 million Harmony Performing Arts Project. The district is seeking an estimated $2.5 million to $3 million in private donations for work on the high school auditorium, band room and choir room; it hopes donations will cover the entire phase.
The project began in 2024 as a public-private partnership, according to Cleveland.com. Its first phase, a roughly $3 million orchestra room, broke ground in March and is expected to be finished by the end of December, with students slated to use it after winter break. The Quagliata family donated $1 million, while the district and community donations provided about $1.5 million more, the outlet reported.
Why the Orchestra Room Mattered First
Orchestra students previously rehearsed on the auditorium stage, Cleveland.com reported. Senior Jerry Du told the outlet that a dedicated room would improve the rehearsal environment and help students develop as musicians and as a community.
The high school was built in the early 1990s, and its auditorium has not had a major renovation since, according to Cleveland.com. The auditorium also hosts performances by other district schools and community events, including concerts and dance recitals, the outlet reported, citing Jennifer Reece.
What Phase II Would Actually Build
The district’s plans, as described by Cleveland.com, call for updated seating, acoustics, stage and lighting in the auditorium, as well as new audio-visual equipment. The band room would receive updated flooring and lighting, acoustic improvements and additional instrument storage. In the choir room, portable risers would replace fixed concrete ones, allowing the space to be used more flexibly.
Jennifer Reece said the district wants its performing arts spaces to reflect students’ talents, Cleveland.com reported. District officials are meeting regularly about Phase II and plan outreach events to build awareness and support, according to the outlet. Community members can sponsor auditorium seats or donate through the district’s website; questions can be directed to 330-653-1495 or [email protected].
A Bigger Campaign Down the Road in Dayton
A separate community campaign in Oakwood offers a point of comparison. The Dayton Foundation reported that Oakwood Schools Foundation was raising money for an $8.8 million performing arts wing. The campaign had raised more than $6.6 million at the time of the account, and the wing was on target to open in early 2024. Its scope included new band, choir and orchestra spaces, along with practice rooms, storage and directors’ offices.
Hudson’s March groundbreaking formally launched Phase One, not the auditorium, band and choir work now being pursued. The Hudson City Schools website described the event as the start of the Harmony Performing Arts Project’s orchestra-room phase. Hudson High’s student newspaper, Hudson Explorer News, described the overall $5.5 million project as mainly privately funded, with support from parents, alumni and community members; it said the orchestra room was designed to add roughly 5,000 square feet.
Public programs and a different community model
Ohio has public facility programs as well as donation-funded approaches: the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission says it manages planning, development and construction programs for public K-12 school renovations and new buildings, using funding from various sources. Its overview does not establish whether Hudson is eligible for or involved in any such program; the district’s stated plan for Phase II is to rely on private donations. Oakwood’s campaign also differed in scope from Hudson’s proposed renovations of existing rooms. The Dayton Foundation’s account says the new wing was intended not only for music instruction but also for school and Board of Education meetings and for speech, debate and theater rehearsals and practice.
For Phase II, the district has not set a fundraising deadline or construction timeline, according to Cleveland.com. The start of the work therefore remains tied to the district’s effort to secure donations.
