The Arts Are Growing in Collier County at Ave Maria

According to this article from the Naples Daily News, Ave Maria University is planning a 1,250-seat performing arts center, which will benefit its students and the surrounding community.

The official announcement hasn’t come yet, but Myra Janco Daniels has already confirmed the exciting new venture.

And Jim Towey, president of the Catholic University, calls it “a new era.”

“(Founding partner) Tom Monaghan had a great interest in the arts and planted the seeds. More and more of our students, coming from all over the world, are interested in the arts and this performing arts center will fill that need.”

The roughly 180 feet by 350 foot multistory center will hold a thrust stage in its auditorium; have the potential for orchestral space; and feature seven practice rooms for the University’s music students.

“This is going to fundamentally change their music department,” Daniels predicted. Daniels said she has been to the school to hear its orchestra and its performance of Shakespearean comedies and has come away impressed.

In fact, Ave Maria is one of the few Catholic institutions in the country that offers students a music major.

The Ave Maria University chamber choir collaborated with the Philharmonic Chorale and the Naples Philharmonic for its performances of “Carmina Burana” last season. It will join them again for the upcoming Beethoven Symphony No. 9 performances from April 10-12 at Artis, formally the Philharmonic, in Naples.

The news release indicates the hall will be used for more than student events, saying it is “expected to host national- and international-caliber events,” according to the Daily News.

While a specific location hasn’t been announced for the building, it is set to be in the town of Ave Maria, which is roughly 31 miles away from Artis—Naples.

And Kathleen van Bergen, the current CEO of Artis—Naples, issued a statement in support of the idea:

“As a partner in our upcoming performances of Beethoven Symphony no. 9, (Ave Maria Chamber Choir), we know the arts are alive and well in Ave Maria. We are excited to learn that they are planning a concert hall, as it is a sign of growth for Collier County. With this new commitment to the arts, we look forward to more partnerships serving an even broader concert-going public.”