Pingry Unveils the Opening of the Leola and Amos Hostetter Arts Center
March 24, 2003

The day of eager anticipation has finally taken place. On March 24, Pingry held the grand opening of the school’s new arts center, located at the Martinsville campus. The day marked the first in which upper and middle school students would tour the center and attend classes in the new facility. The unveiling began with an assembly in the Hauser auditorium. During the gathering, Headmaster John Neiswender introduced music department head, Dr. Andrew Moore; theatre department head, Al Romano; and art department head, Miles Boyd, all of whom stressed their excitement and eagerness to use the new wing. As Mr. Romano stated, “Now I know how Miller Bugliari (Pingry soccer coach) felt standing on the new World Cup soccer field, waiting for his team to play. It’s a great day for Pingry – a milestone.” “This building not only represents Pingry’s dedication to the arts but also the values of the community,” Dr. Moore said. Mr. Boyd went on to thank all who have helped to support the completion of the center, which took seven years from conception to occupation. Among those on his list were Headmaster John Neiswender, former Headmaster John Hanly, the board of trustees, Mike Virzi, head of maintenance, and the maintenance staff. The assembly was followed by a ribbon cutting held outside of the copper covered center by the arts department heads. The ceremony signaled a mad dash of anxious students into the new building. Echoes of cheer spread through the halls and rooms, which are graced with numerous windows, providing much needed natural lighting. Students’ gasps of admiration were mimicked. One student likened the experience to being at Disney World. The center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, box office, galleries, choral rooms, high-quality theatre, and offices. The inclusion of a dance studio with floor length mirrors and bars brought about exhilaration from students who would no longer have to search for a dance space. Safety is another area that was kept in mind, as the art rooms include eye wash stations and a spray room for using adhesives and other chemicals. Each art room is also equipped with computers, work stations, and storage areas, and the spacious dance and music rooms are sound proof. In addition, the vocal/orchestral studios have a Midi room, which allows recording and sound production. “The technology is amazing in what they used to construct it. It’s a marvel, and the facilities are top notch,” Andrew Werner (V) said. “I think it’s incredible. Both of my kids took art classes here, and I wished they had something like this,” says Dean Slutyer, English teacher and author. Sonia Alam (VI) feels that the new choral rooms will make it much easier for her and others to concentrate on their vocal abilities. “You can not only hear yourself, but you can hear others better,” she explains. Sonja, who will be graduating this year, looks forward to having classes in the new rooms, but is “disappointed that I didn’t get the full experience. I’m just fortunate to have a taste.” © 2003 The Pingry School