The Ed Rachal Foundation announced it will give $10 million to the Texas A&M Foundation, the largest gift to date in a campaign to build a new Music Activities Center at Texas A&M University.
The center on the south end of campus will be home to all of the university’s orchestras, choral groups and bands, including the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.
An architectural rendering of the new Music Activities Center
The new Music Activities Center, located on the corner of George Bush Drive and Coke Street, will accommodate more than 1,300 student musicians who are part of 14 different musical groups on campus. The proposed facility is expected to cost $40 million, with half the funds coming from the university and the other $20 million generated by donor support through the Texas A&M Foundation. The Rachal Foundation’s gift brings the giving total to approximately $18 million. The new building will replace the E.V. Adams Band Hall.
“As a former bandsman, I’m especially excited about this initiative,” said Foundation President Tyson Voelkel, a 1996 graduate of the university. “The Rachal Foundation’s support will launch us toward the next phase of our efforts to complete the Music Activities Center. With this gift, the vision of this center becomes more of a reality for our deserving students and the dedicated staff who create our musical identity.”
The facility will feature adequate practice space and amenities including soundproof rooms, lockers for instrument storage, an artificial turf drill field and four state-of-the-art rehearsal halls. The center will also offer students, alumni and visitors an opportunity to learn more about the music traditions of Texas A&M.
“This gift by the Ed Rachal Foundation is not only momentous for the future of musical education at Texas A&M University, it is a major milestone in the university’s comprehensive campaign,” said Texas A&M University President Michael Young. “As part of this effort, we have made a commitment to enhancing transformational learning experiences for our students, and the Rachal Foundation gift will most certainly aid in this exceptionally important endeavor.”
The ‘Lead By Example’ comprehensive campaign is targeting to raise $4 billion by 2020 to solve the most crucial challenges facing the state, nation and world. The campaign focuses on continuing the leadership that Texas A&M has demonstrated for over 100 years while expanding our efforts in the global challenge areas where our university has immense capabilities.
“This generous gift helps construct a state-of-the-art rehearsal facility that will address the current needs and future growth of our musical ensembles,” said Tim Rhea, Director of Bands and Music Activities at Texas A&M. “The Rachal Foundation has ensured that our students will have an environment for their musical endeavors that will enhance lives on campus and in the community.”
Other lead donors to the Music Activities Center project include Anne and David Dunlap ’83 of The Woodlands, Texas; Patti and Weldon Kruger ’53 of College Station; and Elizabeth and Paul Haskell Motheral '52 of Spicewood, Texas, who gave the deed to their home on Lake Travis in Austin.
The Texas A&M Foundation hopes to have the remainder of its $20 million goal for the Music Activities Center funded this year so that groundbreaking can begin in 2017.
Texas A&M Foundation
The Texas A&M Foundation is a nonprofit organization that solicits and manages investments in academics and leadership programs to enhance Texas A&M’s capability to be among the best universities.
You can support the Music Activities Center with a gift to the Texas A&M Foundation. For additional information about giving, contact Cindy Munson ’99 with the Foundation at (979) 845-7558 or cmunson@txamfoundation.com.
For additional information, contact Monika Blackwell at mblackwell@txamfoundation.com or (979) 845-7468.
