The 1885 Music Hall, listed on the National Register for Historic Places, is owned, operated, and loved by The Friends of the Mozartina Musical Arts Conservatory, Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, cultural and educational organization established in 1979. Our mission is three-fold: to present diverse and relevant programming in music, theater, dance, and film for the enrichment of the tri-state community; to promote arts education through classes, partnerships, performing opportunities, and residencies; and to preserve and restore the historic Music Hall so that it may continue to be a vibrant performing arts center and catalyst for sustainable economic development in our area.
The 843-seat theater was rescued from the wrecking ball on Valentine’s Day 1980 by our organization and specifically by board members Helen and Berthold Ringeisen, a pianist and language professor respectively, who, believing the arts were important for the community, riskily placed their home and business up as collateral so that the building could be purchased and renovated. Together with other arts enthusiasts, they operated the theater on a volunteer basis for 23 years. Today, the Music Hall is a cultural destination and one of the busiest theaters in the area, offering the best in music theater, dance, film and education and attracting over 100,000 people, including 25,000 children, from all over the tri-state area annually. As an economic engine for the region, the Music Hall pumps over $6 million into the local economy every year through visitor-related spending, according the Arts and Economic Calculator.
The organization’s vision is to continue growing as a leading presenter of diverse and relevant programming in the performing arts for the enrichment of the tri-state community, promoting education through performances, classes, and residencies, partnering with local arts organizations, and strengthening the local economy. The Music Hall, once fully restored and renovated, will accommodate an increased variety and quantity of high-quality performances and be a showcase for green energy in a 19th-century building.