The Victoria Conservatory of Music showed off its facilities at its open house Saturday.
Members of the public were invited to tour the conservatory, including performance halls, practice rooms and a library featuring more than 60,000 music sheets and books. Visitors also got to enjoy free concerts by VCM faculty and students.
One of the stars of the show, from the conservatory's perspective, is the recently opened Music Technology and Creativity Lab, which was made possible by a donation from Pitt and Sheila Linder.
The lab features computers and software for music recording, editing and production, and it's open to both beginners and experts.
"It's something we've dreamt about for years," said Stephen Green, dean of the conservatory.
In addition to the software and the computers, the room includes a multi-channel audio system that will allow students to hear their creations and discuss with instructors and peers. There is also a large smart TV that allows the conservatory to connect live with professional musicians and teachers from around the world.
"It's all here," Green said. "We want to make sure that anyone who has an interest in music technology knows that it's not just one particular group. You don't have to be, like, a professional musician. It's all open to everyone."
The new space means greater accessibility for the conservatory, he said, adding that it helps the organization meet the needs of the 21st century musician.
The space cost roughly $50,000 to create, according to the conservatory.
