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Support Letters.pdfJohn Sanders DSP Shows PO Box 736 Ithaca NY 14851 9/7/17 Community Preservation Committee City of Northampton Massachusetts Dear Community Preservation Committee: I am writing to share my enthusiastic support of The Academy of Music’s grant proposal to complete the restoration of the theatre’s auditorium in addition to new projects that will improve the lobby, salon and restrooms. As partner and talent buyer of DSP Shows, I have produced over 50 music and comedy events at the Academy of Music since April of 2015 with internationally recognized artists like David Crosby, Melissa Etheridge, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Brandi Carlile, Hannibal Buress and more. The Academy of Music is an invaluable asset to the city of Northampton and the surrounding communities. The building’s history tells the story of the people of Northampton over the past 125 years. This project will not only help preserve this history and share it with the community, but will also help tell the stories of Northampton’s residents for many years to come. In my work as a concert promoter, my goal is to provide artists and audiences the best experience possible. By making these improvements, the Academy is showing its commitment to being a premier venue for nationally touring artists while also meeting the needs of the many community groups who call the venue home. This project will help me bring more events to the venue which will in turn bring more people to downtown Northampton. In conclusion, I believe this project to be extremely important to the continued success of the Academy of Music and hope you share this assessment. If I can be of any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me by phone at 773.891.3463 or by email at john@dspshows.com Sincerely, John Sanders Partner/Talent Buyer 99 Pleasant Street Northampton, MA 01060 P. 413-584-1900 F. 413-584-1934 W. www. explorenorthampton.com September 8, 2017 Community Preservation Act Committee City of Northampton 210 Main Street Northampton, MA 01060 2017 Board of Directors Matthew Bannister PeoplesBank Julie Cowan MassDevelopment Jay Czelusniak Czelusniak Funeral Home David DeSwert VICE PRESIDENT Smith College Jody Doele PRESIDENT Thornes Marketplace Robert Fazzi Fazzi Associates, Inc. Derrick Feuerstein Debra Flynn Eastside Grill / Slainté Ruth Griggs RC Communications Debra J’Anthony Academy of Music Theatre Rich Horton TREASURER Community Enterprises, Inc. John Majercak Center for EcoTechnology Noreen Mickiewicz Hayes ServiceNet, Inc. Russell J. Peotter EX OFFICIO WGBY Public Television for Western New England Robert Reckman Michael Rifanburg Daily Hampshire Gazette Julia Sorensen Cooley Dickinson Health Care Christopher Whelan Florence Bank Al Williams Northampton Community Television Dear members of the committee: On behalf of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, I’d like to strongly endorse the Academy of Music’s application for Community Preservation Act funding. The Academy’s transformation to a premiere performance venue has rescued this historic landmark and brought immeasurable benefits by expanding our cultural offerings and supporting our local independent economy. The success of both the restoration and expansion of programs is a great testament to their vision and their ability to create a sustainable future. They have demonstrated over and over the results of good management, good leadership and the importance of community support o their continued success. The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce works closely with cultural and hospitality industry partners to bring new visitors to our area. As fiscal agent to the newly formed Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council, we are expanding our destination marketing program and its emphasis on our cultural offerings. The Academy of Music Theatre is poised to benefit from the state’s investment in new tourism marketing and ready, with your help, to welcome more visitors through its doors. Thank you for considering the Chamber’s endorsement. Good luck with your review of, I’m sure, many worthy applications. I do hope that this one rises to the top and gets a unanimous “yes” from the committee. Sincerely and with thanks for your efforts, Suzanne Beck Executive Director Friday, September 8, 2017 To: Northampton Community Preservation Act committee From: Tony Lechner, Rock Voices, lnc. Re: Letter of recommendation for Academy of Music Dear committee members, As the director of Rock Voices, a large community choir with a footprint in MA, CT, and VT, I have had the privilege of leading our performances at the Academy since 2014. We also perform at university music halls, public school auditoriums, and churches, but there is nothing like the joy-for both Rock Voices choir members and our audiences-that comes from performing at the Academy. We typically sell out our shows each year at the Academy, and we hope to continue to do so for many years to come. Rock Voices members are so grateful to have the chance to perform on the very same stage as big-name artists, in a place so rich with local history. With the impressive stage lights, sound, and curtains, taking the stage at the Academy is a rock-and-roll dream come true for many of our members. Our audiences similarly are "wowed" by the space, and are thrilled to see their friends and loved ones shine in that environment. They often remark on how lovely the Academy is, too! We fully support the Academy's efforts to continue to restore and improve this historic theater, which is truly a beloved community space. Restoring the opera boxes will not only increase capacity but also make a "packed house" feeltruly special. An inner lobby that matches the beauty of the auditorium would lend even more gravltas to the building, and honor its historicity. Most of all, we are particularly pleased that the Academy plans to install ADA- accessible bathrooms, as a few of our choir members use wheelchairs, and this has presented some difficulties. These improvements will help the Academy and all those who perform there create unforgettable experiences for audiences for decades to come. Sincerely,/Z* Tony Lechner Founder & Executive Director Rock Voices, lnc. 3 0 N O R T H M A P L E S T R E E T F L O R E N C E , M A 0 1 0 6 2 www.youngatheartchorus.com September 8, 2017 Dear Members of the Community Preservation Committee, I wanted to add my voice to the many in our community who eagerly anticipate the completion of the auditorium restoration along with the lobby and hallway work at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton. Community Preservation funds will be well spent and continue this miraculous turn around of this beautiful historic theater. I began producing shows at the Academy of Music for the Young@Heart Chorus in 1985 and also produced many shows for the Northampton Arts Council starting in 1992. I can attest to how far the theater has progressed since those early days. The current director Debra J’Anthony and the board led by President Andrew Crystal have a vision to bring the Academy into the 21st century and they have sparked a change that not many of us could imagine possible. I retired from the Arts Council in 2013 but I continue to produce two shows a year for the Young@Heart. Our audiences are made up of people who attended events at the Academy of Music since the 1930’s. They fully understand and appreciate the significance of the changes that have been made in a theater that is regarded as the jewel in the crown in Northampton. Sincerely, Bob Cilman Director, Yong@Heart Chorus