Northshore Magazine

146 the project built in a small town known for its historical integrity. In fact, Rock- port Music did not consider architectural proposals that called for an avant-garde new building. "Rockport Music wanted to be re- spectful to the town," Joslin explains. "Originally, we planned to build inside the existing structure. When that proved unfeasible, we put the concert hall behind the original façade and revved up the Second Empire style to make it look more like a festive civic building. "We added French doors to the street side of the second story. On the Fourth of July, people sit up there and watch the parade," he notes. A large, open room occupies the space above the concert hall on the top floor of the building, defined on the exterior by the gambrel roof. Here, concertgo- ers buy refreshments and mingle during intermissions. With soaring ceilings and splendid panoramic views, the space has also become a sought-after rental venue for weddings and other events. "The building has been the key element in Rockport Music's growth," says Joe Mueller, chairman of the board of trustees. "We made our first strategic plan in 2008. Right now, we are 50 percent bigger than we thought we would be at this time." He adds that the organization will soon launch a capital campaign dedicated to the care and maintenance of the building. One of Rockport Music's top priorities is to bring music education and apprecia- tion into the wider community. "We go into the schools in Gloucester, Rockport, Salem, and Manchester/Essex," says Stephanie Woolf, director of Education and Outreach. "This year, there are four residencies for professional musicians— two of them in jazz. We also hold work- shops, master classes, and other events. Every year, there is a free public concert where students get to play with profession- al musicians, which is wonderfully exciting for them. They bring their parents, and a whole new audience comes to hear music." Because of the splendid new building, she says, the education programs have grown by leaps and bounds. An especially meaningful, though little-known program is called HARP, short for Healing Arts Rockport. It brings music to children and adults with life-threatening illnesses. There's one bugaboo—a source of constant anxiety in small towns—which has not materialized. The Shalin Liu Performance Center was built without a dedicated parking facility; it seemed impractical in the tightly knit historic center of Rockport. However, concertgo- ers have consistently managed to find parking, and traffic has continued to flow without a hitch. "The fear was overblown," Muel- ler says. "The Rockport National Bank across the street has generously made its lot available, and people find their spots along the streets." Just as they do in big cities, concertgo- ers find places to park, and then walk to and from the hall. When the destination is an evening of both visual and aural de- light, it is part of the pleasure. rcmf.org ● n Key Elements Clockwise from top, chairman of the board of trustees, Joe Mueller; the Second Empire-style exterior; director of education and outreach, Stephanie Woolf photographs by brad mintz REV_145_April14 Shalin Liu.indd 146 2/24/14 1:58 PM

• Cover