Last October, Wheaton College celebrated the Conservatory of Music’s long-awaited move into the completed first half of the Armerding Center for Music and the Arts. Music majors and non-majors alike now enjoy access to new state-of-the art teaching studios, classrooms, practice rooms, recording and editing studios, a digital keyboard lab, and a recital hall, all with humidity control and sound isolation.

A formal building dedication on November 3 featured an open house, facility tours, and a sneak peek at the plans for the yet-to-be-completed second half. Through the stewardship of alumni, parents, and friends, $46 million has been raised toward the $63 million total needed to complete the Armerding Center.

Once finished, the center will offer students a choral rehearsal hall, a spacious lobby, and the building’s crown jewel: a 648-seat concert hall with a custom-designed pipe organ. Outfitted with petal-shaped ceiling sound reflectors, the concert hall will offer exceptional acoustics and an immersive listening experience.

In years to come, the new Armerding Center for Music and the Arts will better prepare all students to serve the church and society and harness the power of music to move hearts and illuminate the magnificence of God’s glory.