June 10, 2025
High Notes
Inside Falls Music CenterDedicated on May 3, Andover’s purpose-built home for music fittingly honors a true Phillips Academy groundbreaker—Board of Trustees President Amy C. Falls ’82, P’19, ’21.
Falls Music Center, named by the trustees in recognition of Falls’s pioneering stewardship, heralds a new chapter of innovation and creativity for music education and the broader liberal arts. The sleek, graceful building was made possible through a significant Knowledge & Goodness campaign gift from Falls and her husband, Hartley Rogers P’19, ’21. Today, it provides myriad opportunities for students to seek meaning, connection, and fulfillment through music—and one another.
I now think we have arguably one of the best music facilities that I’ve seen—one that truly celebrates our dedicated faculty and students. I want to extend the biggest thank you to everyone who joined our family with gifts of every size to make this happen.
”GERSHWIN-GODOWSKY COURT
The soaring concourse is as inviting as the melodies of its namesakes, famed composers George and Ira Gershwin and renowned pianist and composer Leopold Godowsky. All three icons are forebears of Jonathan Keidan ’92, who designated this space in their honor. The court is a friendly, lively hub for collaboration and study, accented with comfortable seating and central to the John Barry Performance Hall, Guo & Yang Music Library, climate-controlled instrument lockers and storage, and more.
EMILY & FRANK ULLMAN ROOM
This forward-focused environment, one of two keyboard labs in the building, is located just beyond the Guo & Yang Music Library. The room, given by Leo Ullman ’57, P’88, in tribute to his parents, features 12 iMac workstations with digital notation software, headphones, and music production technology. Everything a budding artist needs to create, sample, edit, and record a modern music masterpiece.
The acoustics have absolutely changed the way that we can teach and program music. The students can be more responsive and attentive because of this clarity. And that has enabled them to work toward a level of nuance and togetherness they could not achieve otherwise.
”GUO & YANG MUSIC LIBRARY
Inspiration abounds in this extensive music repository, situated just off the Gershwin-Godowsky Court and generously given by the family of Shirley Guo ’11 and Si-Jin Guo ’19. Young composers, musicologists, and melophiles can explore and learn from the 8,500-plus recordings and digital databases available here. Blank sheet music is at the ready for would-be songsmiths. Couches and tables—surrounded by the substantial works of musicians from Bach to Beyoncé—spark opportunities for teaching and research.
PERFORMANCE SPACES
Every cymbal crash and vibrato rings crystal clear in Andover’s newest ensemble spaces. Thanks to donor contributions, these three areas are already animating musical moments for students and audiences alike.
The Academy’s orchestras, concert band, and chorus take center stage in the John Barry Performance Hall. This remarkable space is named for the legendary British composer and conductor, who was one of the most important forces in music for film, television, and stage in England and America for more than four decades. Donated by Charter Trustee Eric ’89 and Aerin Zinterhofer P’18, ’19, this elegant venue features flexible, tiered seating for nearly 250 audience members on two levels. Sweeping campus views are framed by expansive windows that complement every chord and crescendo.
State-of-the-art acoustics are paramount in the hall, and indeed, throughout the building. Specialized paneling, felt wall coverings, and double-walled ductwork implemented in various versatile configurations ensure optimal sound quality and noise reduction.
Wind ensemble and jazz band rehearsals occur in the sunny Zhang Ensemble Room. A gift of Yichen Zhang ’82, P’18, ’20, ’25, and Annabelle Long, the room overlooks the Chandler-Wormley Vista from the music center’s second floor. Here, students and faculty can also utilize the large television screen and projector to score movies, record practice sessions, or even work on visual or digital mixing. Smaller groups harmonize down the hall in the Réjane Ensemble Room. The space is ideal for chamber music—and was given by Patrick ’83 and Nina Wilson P’16, ’18, ’20, ’23, in honor of his great-grandmother.
I recently had the privilege of performing in the John Barry Performance Hall for a chamber music concert. Initially, the size and the grandeur of the space were daunting. Any feeling of being overwhelmed, however, was exceeded by the excitement and gratitude I felt being able to perform in such a beautiful hall. I do not take for granted the generosity and commitment extended to fostering our passion for music. Thank you to our donors!
”CLASSROOMS
The future of music education is bright in the three classrooms of Falls Music Center, two of which are named for faculty emeriti William Thomas and Rabbi Everett Gendler P’83, ’86. In every way, these airy second-floor spaces elevate teaching and learning across diverse course offerings, such as Jazz History, Introduction to Theory and Composition, and more. Each classroom provides dynamic seating, dry erase boards prepopulated with musical staffs, and the very latest technological resources to encourage curious, hard-working scholars.
FACULTY-INSPIRED SETTINGS
Teachers. Mentors. Leaders. For decades, Phillips Academy music educators have empowered students to believe in their dreams and pursue excellence. Today, these campus icons are remembered in Falls Music Center by the alumni, families, and friends they inspired.
A light-filled second-floor classroom, made possible by a group of dedicated donors, is named for Faculty Emeritus William Thomas. Among his numerous accomplishments, Thomas introduced Andover’s music requirement, established the gospel choir and chamber program, and founded the school’s Black Arts Weekend.
A practice studio symbolically situated next to the William Thomas Classroom recognizes Thomas’s longtime colleague and friend, Faculty Emeritus Christopher Walter P’01, ’03. Former student Elaine Dimopoulos ’96 made the gift in Walter’s honor for his unwavering support and encouragement of pupils like her.
Another practice studio, given by Trustee Emerita Elizabeth Parker Powell ’56, P’84, ’90, GP’19, honors Abbot Academy music teacher Kate Friskin, esteemed for her enthusiasm and compassion during her 1922–1961 tenure. Likewise, the Gendler Classroom channels the calm, curious spirit of Rabbi Everett Gendler P’83, ’86, PA’s first Jewish chaplain, who favored the melodies of Mozart. The classroom was donated by Donald L. Shapiro ’53, P’79, ’83, ’87.
“Music is a balance between the solitary endeavor of practicing and the joy of collaboration,” says Elizabeth Aureden, the Donna Brace Ogilvie ’30 Teaching Foundation instructor in music. “As each student develops new skills, the whole expands in joyful and beautiful ways.
“Kate Friskin and Everett Gendler understood and cherished that cycle of growth. These spaces—designed for music making, teaching, and learning—also carry forth the boundless energy and warmth of William Thomas, Chris Walter, and Carroll and Elaine Bailey.”
When I step into Falls Music Center to do music production or practice my viola or violin, I feel like I’m in a professional space. I’m ready. I’m excited. All the ideas start spilling out. I am very thankful to the donors for giving students like me such an amazing place to express our creativity.
”Practice Studios
Aspiring beatboxers perfect their vocal kick drums and hi-hats in a first-floor space donated by singer-songwriter, cellist, and Pentatonix member Kevin Olusola ’06. Outfitted with cutting-edge acoustics and soundproofing, this studio is an ideal rehearsal spot for all students looking to advance their talents. So is the Palfrey Family Practice Studio, donated by former head of school John G. Palfrey P’21 and his wife, Catherine Carter, to recognize the accomplished conductors and choristers of Andover’s Fidelio Society. The two studios are among the 19 placed throughout Falls Music Center to maximize creativity through daily application.
Abbot Academy Fund
The extraordinary Abbot legacy endures within the Sarah Abbot Suite. Made possible through a grant from the Abbot Academy Fund, this first-floor collection of three offices, cheerful workspace and lounge, and administrative area thoughtfully centers Abbot’s rich musical tradition. And pays tribute to some of its brightest luminaries.
The eponymous space honors trailblazer Sarah Abbot, who founded Abbot Academy in 1829. Nearly 200 years on, her non sibi spirit continues to inspire the Abbot Academy Fund, which sponsors a wide range of projects and programs consistent with the Abbot ideals of boldness, innovation, and caring for PA students and faculty. The Falls Music Center gift includes the building’s south-facing Abbot Academy Terrace, perfect for groups like Fidelio—the student choral society that originated at Abbot—to practice their arpeggios al fresco.
Inside the suite, the department chair’s office is named for Faculty Emerita Susan McIntosh Lloyd P’77, ’78, ’79, a history and music instructor who was known for her fierce intelligence, virtuosity in viola and voice, and steadfast mentorship to countless students throughout her 1968–1997 tenure.
Additionally, the Gwyneth Walker ’64 Office is named for the Abbot alumna and award-winning composer who penned a string orchestra piece for 2024’s Abbot & Andover at 50 celebrations. It—like the rest of the Sarah Abbot Suite rooms—provides ample opportunity for collaboration, research, and academic planning.
The Abbot Academy Fund has a longstanding commitment to music and the arts. To that end, we are proud that our gift helps welcome students to Falls Music Center through the Abbot Academy Terrace. It is fitting that our founder’s name will forever be part of a space that invites artistic excellence—and so much more.
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Categories: Philanthropy
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