The Music Center
Campaign
Strengthening community, connecting neighbors, and broadening outreach through music.
The $2.5M Music Center Campaign represents the first step in achieving the master vision plan for our cathedral campus. The Music Center will create a single space that centralizes all components of our music program—currently dispersed across four different levels throughout campus and without a dedicated rehearsal space—and broaden our community outreach abilities, just as the Guild Room and other spaces on campus do now, but with a special emphasis on the music and arts component of our mission and ministry.
It is through faith and our collective generosity as a congregation, and as a community, that we will bring our vision of the Music Center to life.
We invite you to make your contribution today and help create something truly remarkable.
It is through faith and our collective generosity as a congregation, and as a community, that we will bring our vision of the Music Center to life.
We invite you to make your contribution today and help create something truly remarkable.
About
An integral part of St. Paul’s Cathedral is our renowned and widely celebrated tradition of choral and organ music, which inspires our first-time visitors, guests, and long-time members alike.
Our Music Ministry and programming is currently dispersed across four different levels throughout our cathedral campus. By reimagining the space under the Great Hall, which is currently compartmentalized office space, the Music Center will a create single space that centralizes all components of St. Paul’s music program.
Our vision for the Music Center extends far beyond our cathedral walls to create a safe and accessible rehearsal space that builds community across San Diego’s diverse musical circles. The Music Center will provide participants and partner user groups with an efficient and flexible space to meet their unique needs as well as create opportunities to combine and organize region-wide outreach efforts to expand access to arts and culture in San Diego.
Our Process: How Did We Get Here
* Groundbreaking and construction activities will begin when 90% of the funding required to complete the project is identified and/or secured in pledges and contributions.
St. Paul’s Cathedral… A Cathedral for the City
Envision a diverse community, drawn together by a legacy of faith, inclusion and celebration of humanity, united in dedication to a common purpose: to enrich the lives of all around them by providing safe spaces for music and the arts, important conversations, service to others, jubilation, grieving and worship.
St. Paul’s Cathedral aspires to be that community—a spiritual cornerstone of San Diego, a force for good, a true Cathedral for the City.
“To sing is to pray twice.”
∼ St. Augustine
Strengthening evangelism and broadening community outreach through music.
The Project: Where Are We Going
Major Gifts Campaign: Cathedral Music Center
An integral part of our worship at St. Paul’s is our glorious tradition of choral and organ music, which inspires our first-time visitors and long-time members alike. The Music Center Campaign represents the first step in achieving our master vision plan for our cathedral campus. The Music Center, to be located under the Great Hall, will bring together into one location all the components of St. Paul’s music ministry
The Process: How Did We Get Here
The recent success of our campus redevelopment prompted cathedral leadership to dream of new opportunities to strengthen our role as a Cathedral for the City. A comprehensive process engaged parishioners in an exploration of potential capital projects for the church building and grounds that align with the mission and vision of the congregation.
- Listening phase conducted
- Campaign feasibility and planning study completed
- Project budget and scope of work refined
- $2.5M major gifts campaign approved
Music at St. Paul's
What makes music at St. Paul’s special?
St. Paul’s music ministry is renowned for its magnificent choirs, accomplished musicians, and historical organ, considered one of the finest instruments in the country. Excellence in choral music has been a benchmark of the worship life of St Paul’s since the 1880s, and continues to this day.
- Accomplished musicians
- Stunning choirs
- An exquisite organ
More Than Music
Strengthening Community and Broadening OutreachStrengthening Community and Broadening Outreach
As a cathedral community, we welcome non-members and host many outside arts and musical groups at St. Paul’s, including a wonderful and growing partnership with the Voices of Our City Choir, to spread our faith and create safe and welcoming spaces for all. While Voices is just one of the many groups that would benefit from the construction of a hospitable and functioning rehearsal space, there are new partnerships that are already forming that will benefit from the Music Center.
We have already seen a gravitation towards St. Paul’s from outside groups looking for safe, secure, and functional spaces to advance their important missions. These groups include Black Xpression and
the Regional Task Force on Homelessness.
The Music Center unquestionably offers opportunities to engage community and broaden our outreach abilities, just as the Guild Room and other spaces on campus do now, but with a special emphasis on the music and arts component of our mission and ministry.
Music Center
Schematics and Renderings
Current Layout as of April 2023
Our Music Ministry and programming is currently dispersed across four different levels throughout our cathedral campus. By reimagining the space under the Great Hall, which is currently compartmentalized office space, we will create an open floor plan for our Music Ministry.
Our Vision
Community:
An accessible, flexible space for our community partners and user groups.
Efficiency:
A single space that centralizes all components of the music ministry and programming.
Quality:
A physical space to reflect the spirit and quality of our music and music program.
Safety:
A welcoming, safe space that includes gender-neutral restrooms, parent-waiting area with viewing glass, and guest lounge, that can be closed off and secured.
The Music Center: How We Envision It
Schematics and Renderings
Renovated Space: Music Center as of April 2023
Safety and Security: A self-contained space that can be closed off and secured, and that includes private restrooms and a parent-waiting area and guest lounge
Efficiency: A single space that centralizes all components of the music ministry
Quality: A physical space to reflect the spirit and quality of our music program
Community and Accessibility: A space for our community and our neighbors
Campaign Volunteer Leaership
On behalf of St. Paul’s Cathedral, we would like to acknowledge the passion and dedication of our volunteer leaders who have been giving faithfully of their time, talent, and treasure to ensure the success of this campaign and the Music Center project.
Campaign Committee Chairs
Russell Okihara
Campaign Study Committee, Co-Chair
Campaign Leadership Giving Committee,
Co-Chair
Campaign Steering Committee, Co-Chair
Rockette Ewell
Campaign Study Committee, Co-Chair
Campaign Steering Committee, Co-Chair
Kimberly Fernandez
Campaign Leadership Giving Committee, Co-Chair
Campaign Steering Committee
Campaign Committee Members
Tonya Chavis
Campaign Study Committee
Campaign Steering Committee
Canon Konnie Dadmun
Campaign Study Committee
Darien DeLorenzo
Campaign Study Committee
Canon Martin Green
Campaign Steering Committee
Janet and Paul Hagen
Campaign Steering Committee
Sue Kelly
Campaign Steering Committee
Pat Kreder
Campaign Study Committee
Justin Lewis
Campaign Study Committee
Campaign Steering Committee
Maureen McNulty
Campaign Study Committee
Betsey Monsell
Campaign Leadership Giving Committee
Allen Mutchler
Campaign Leadership Giving Committee
Don Pellioni
Campaign Study Committee
Blair Shamel
Campaign Leadership Giving Committee
The Rev. Thomas Wilson
Campaign Study Committee
Frequently Asked Questions
For the hard costs, we’re estimating around $1.4 million, which will cover necessary renovations, demolition, clean up, as well as acquiring fixtures, furnishings, and equipment like a high-density music storage system.
As for the soft costs, we’re looking at approximately $1.1 million, which encompasses architectural design, engineering, permitting, project management, and construction contingencies. This amount also includes campaign costs, annual fundraising subsidies, construction financing, and a contingency for pledge reductions.
Yes, we have secured 100% participation from Chapter and Cathedral Leadership!
While there is no definite way to determine the exact start date, the earliest opportunity for construction to begin will be near the scheduled completion of the Major Gifts Campaign in July 2024, when funding for the project has been secured and/or identified through campaign pledge commitments.
St. Paul’s has a policy where service contracts are not signed until the funding is identified; construction on the project will not begin until 90% or more of the campaign goal has been secured in gifts or pledges.
In early 2021, St. Paul’s Cathedral conducted a planning and listening exercise, which invited input from our cathedral leaders and members, to identify our needs and priorities, with the purpose of creating a masterplan for our cathedral campus. Among the priorities identified, the Music Center was determined to be the most viable and realistic component of the plan to pursue at this time. After the successful completion of the Music Center, we can proceed with the possibilities of moving forward with the other priorities identified in the Master Plan, including the Outreach Center, and other priority funding needs identified in the listening phase of the Master Vision Plan.
No. The Cathedral relies on the income generated from our invested funds to support the annual operating budget and achieve our ongoing ministry goals.
We are confident that we will hit our fundraising goal for the Music Center campaign. In the event that we do not reach our goal, we will realign and adjust the project accordingly. We are committed to providing a home for our music program and will proceed with our vision in smaller steps aligning with our donors’ intentions.
The planned construction in the new Music Center will retain the existing windows and newly installed HVAC system, and to incorporate new ventilation and ducting systems, which will further enhance the overall airflow and environmental quality of the space.
Yes, and groups such as the Voices of Our City Choir—which currently serves as a ministry partner on our campus—have already expressed interest in the use of the new facilities. Our hope is that the new Music Center will can be yet another jewel in the crown of San Diego’s musical arts scene. Conversations with other potential community partners are already promising in this regard.
A donor wall will be prominently displayed in the Music Center to recognize the generous support received from campaign donors at all funding levels.
Yes, donors can make anonymous contributions to the campaign. Gifts can also be recognized in honor of / in recognition of others at the request of the donor.
A pledge is a written agreement, formalized with a Statement of Intent (SOI) that communicates a donor’s intention to make a gift to the campaign, either at a later date or paid over a period of time. We encourage donors to consider making multi-year pledges to the Major Gifts Campaign. This approach allows individuals to comfortably contribute a larger amount while maximizing the impact of their gift. It ensures that they can honor a financial commitment that works for their financial position, while also allowing the full amount of the pledged commitment to be counted toward the campaign goal, whatever the payment structure and timeline selected. Contributions to the Major Gifts Campaign can be pledged over three (3) years.
We understand that circumstances can change, and sometimes it may not be possible to fulfill a pledge. We appreciate your support, and we want you to know that we understand if you are unable to fulfill your pledge. You are not legally responsible for your pledge, but it will be very helpful for us to know as early as possible if you will be unable to fulfill it.
Absolutely! While planned and estate gifts cannot be counted toward the Major Gifts Campaign due to our need for capital funding up front to complete the project, we greatly appreciate and accept legacy gifts. Your support through these means enables us to make a lasting impact at the Cathedral. We would be more than happy to discuss your interest in making a planned gift and provide you with the necessary information and resources.
As you may already know, we host a lot of arts and musical events at St. Paul’s, including a wonderful and growing partnership with the Voices of Our City Choir. They are just one group that would benefit from the construction of a hospitable and functioning rehearsal space, but it wouldn’t end there. Villa Musica, the Early Music Society of San Diego, and groups we don’t yet know who need space could find a home in our Music Center. Until the Music Center is built we won’t know the full extent of the possibilities, but it would unquestionably enhance our community outreach abilities, just as the Guild Room and other spaces on campus do now, but with a special emphasis on the music and arts component of our mission and ministry.
We are strongly committed to continuing our partnership with VOOCC. Conversations have already begun on how we can accommodate our partnership and support their operations during and after construction. Yes, they would certainly lose their current office spaces, but we’re exploring possibilities with them to maintain on-campus activity. We can provide temporary spaces for meetings during the week in the Great Hall (which is wheelchair accessible) with the use of temporary dividers, and provide a temporary space where they can continue their studio recordings. Hand in hand with this we are beginning discussions of their possible long-term use of the Undercroft (beneath the chapel) as their home. With VOOCC fully installed in that area, we would benefit from the knock-on effect of utilizing the Undercroft as an outreach-specific space sooner rather than later, fulfilling another, much desired element of our Master Plan.
For More Information Contact:
Roberta Price
The Rev. Canon Richard Hogue
The Very Rev. Penny Bridges
