Local philanthropist Conrad Prebys’s nascent music career came to a halt at the age of 13, when after performing a less-than-flawless piano concerto during a competition he realized he had neither the talent nor the dedication to be a career musician.  Fortunately for UCSD, although Prebys left musical endeavors behind and went on to become a successful contractor, he never lost his love of music itself.  Now, his recent gift of $6 million to UC San Diego’s new state-of-the-art music center will enable the university to build on the already renowned reputation of its Department of Music as well as share music with the greater San Diego community.


“Music has been a great part of my life and my love for it is stronger today than ever before,” said Prebys, a native of South Bend, IN, who has lived in San Diego since 1965. “I was very excited when I saw the plans for the music center.  I could see that San Diego would be gaining a fantastic new venue, the likes of which it had never seen before, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it all.”


The UC San Diego Music Center—now named The Conrad Prebys Music Center in honor of Prebys’s gift—is currently under construction and slated for a Fall 2009 opening.  The facility will feature a world-class, 400-seat concert hall designed by LMN Architects of Seattle and Cyril Harris, one of the most respected acoustical engineers in the world.  The new center will meet a range of regional and campus performance needs, while elevating UCSD’s Department of Music, already an acknowledged leader in contemporary music, to an even higher level of recognition and excellence.


While the building itself is now funded, there are still many ways to support the new Conrad Prebys Music Center.  An initiative is now being launched to raise additional philanthropic support to fill this new facility with the most promising students, the most talented faculty and the most innovative educational and research programs.


Such programs require support from those in our philanthropic community with a passion for ensuring the future of the performing arts.  With your help, the potential of the facility can be fully realized.  It will be the honor of UC San Diego to recognize the Music Center’s benefactors through a variety of naming opportunities, among them:

• 400-seat Concert Hall:  The cornerstone of the building and considered to be one of the best small concert halls in the world.  $3 million

• WLH Recording Studio:  A state-of-the-art digital recording studio used by faculty, graduate students and guest artists. The best recording studio in San Diego and the only one with a room large enough to record a chamber orchestra. All CDs produced here would carry the studio/donor’s name.  $1.5 million

• Black Box Theater:  An innovative space seating 150 designed to meet the needs of the various music programs, complete with retractable seating and adjustable virtual acoustics.  $1 million

• Orchestral Rehearsal Room:  Designed to accommodate the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus, this room will provide rehearsal space to accommodate both medium and large ensembles.  $500,000

• Chamber Music Rehearsal Studio:  A specially designed space for chamber music rehearsal created to stimulate concert hall acoustics in a more intimate setting.  $60,000

• Individual Faculty Studios:  From a Bass Studio to Voice Studios, offices and teaching studios will provide spaces specifically designed for various creative and educational endeavors.  $20,000 to $50,000 per room

• Student Practice Rooms:  Students of exceptional talent will be able to utilize state of the art facilities designed to suit their needs and inspire them to new heights. $10,000 to $20,000 per room

Community leaders who recognize the value and importance of investing in UC San Diego’s future understand that this investment will produce lasting returns for our region and the world, via the students, faculty, artists and audiences who make music in it.  To learn more about Music Center giving opportunities, please contact Kim McCartney at (858) 822-6618 or kmccartney@ucsd.edu.