Firelands Symphony Orchestra finds new home

HURON TWP. — The Firelands Symphony Orchestra and its music school have a new place to call home.On Friday, orchestra executive director Laurie Korobkin and BGSU Firelands dean Andy Kurtz announced the college would house both entities on its campus in a new partnership.By the end of February 2018, officials hope to relocate its music school and administrative offices into a renovated space in George Mylander Hall, which will include about six sound rooms to expand music education, instrument and voice lessons as well as master classes, officials said. Talks of a collaboration between the college and orchestra have in the works for about two years, orchestra executive director Laurie Korobkin said."We are incredibly grateful for all the support that the Frost-Parker Foundation has bestowed upon us," Korobkin said Friday. "But now we are in a new age and we're certainly looking forward to the possibilities."Korobkin noted that the organization looked at places in downtown Sandusky to move into, but couldn't find a suitable place. Both officials expect the move will increase awareness of educational opportunities at the regional campus."From our perspective it's a win-win," Kurtz said. "It's precisely this kind of collaboration that allows us to round out our curriculum, so the idea here is that the school of the arts is going to be a presence on our campus."In return for using the space, the symphony will have programs on campus for the public. The programs could range from lectures in classes, small ensembles, and more "utilizing expertise of the orchestra and its members of the benefit of our college but also the community too," Kurtz said.The space the program will move to, an unused science lab, is about 24 feet by 48 feet, officials said. The orchestra's board of directors has approved $300,000 budget and has committed $100,000 from its reserves for the space's renovations, Korobkin said.All costs with the move will be the orchestra's responsibility, even though its a nonprofit. The Firelands Symphony Orchestra will be moving from its longtime location at 334 E. Washington Street in Sandusky.Since 1996, the orchestra and have operated in a historic downtown Sandusky home at 334 E. Washington St. Built in 1855, the building is about 4,670 square feet and was listed at $179,000 in October. The symphony's lease will expire in February 2018.The home is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Anyone interested in donating to the project can contact Korobkin at 419-621-4800 or at Laurie@FirelandsSymphony.com.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodBGSU Firelands Campus on Thursday, Mar. 23, 2017.