Meriden’s new Centre for Music and Drama declared open

Meriden School Greenhalgh Centre for Music and Drama.

Image: The Greenhalgh Centre for Music and Drama

The Governor of NSW, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, will today open a spectacular new Centre for Music and Drama at Meriden, an independent Anglican School for girls in Strathfield.

Named by the Meriden School Council in recognition of Dr Julie Greenhalgh’s significant contribution as Principal of Meriden, the Greenhalgh Centre for Music and Drama will be home for a new generation of musicians and performing artists at the School, which this year celebrates 125 years of educating girls and young women.

Designed by AJ + C Architects and built by Buildcorp, the new building was commissioned in response to the success of Meriden’s music programs, which attract some of the best and brightest young musicians in the country.

“It brings me considerable joy to walk through our beautiful new facility, and hear music and laughter rise from every classroom. The Greenhalgh Centre for Music and Drama was created in recognition of the excellence of our young performers and musicians and provides a space appropriate for their hard work. The Greenhalgh Centre for Music and Drama is a magnificent addition to our School and will be loved by generations of students to come.”

Meriden’s Principal, Dr Julie Greenhalgh.

Director of Music at Meriden, Ms Jodie Spooner-Ryan, said the success of the building mirrored the success of Meriden’s music and drama programs.

“Meriden’s music and drama programs have gone from strength to strength. For them to find a home in a building that has been carefully crafted to extend and enhance learning is a wonderful development for both students and their teachers.”

“We are very much enjoying the specialist spaces. Our composition classroom allows our students to use specialist music software and record their compositions in the recording studio, our Recital Room gives students a space in which to perform and rehearse in an intimate chamber setting, while our Ensemble Room allows large ensembles and smaller bands to rehearse together,” said Ms Spooner-Ryan.

Meriden school Greenhalgh Centre for Music and Drama.new Centre for Music and Drama at meriden. — The Allison Howell Drama Theatre, Meriden

“We look forward to staging concerts in the open spaces for the school to enjoy, rehearsing musicals in our dedicated Allison Howell Drama Theatre, and seeing our Music Academy students continue to develop their love of music and performing,” said Ms Spooner-Ryan.

Year 12 student, Chaewon Park, said the space was an exciting one to learn in.

“We couldn’t believe our eyes when we first walked through. The Greenhalgh Centre for Music and Drama is beautiful. I already love to practise my cello in the music studios and I’m looking forward to performing in the bigger spaces. We feel very fortunate.”